Christian Gobrecht
Christian Gobrecht | |
|---|---|
James Barton Longacre | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1785 Hanover, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | July 23, 1844 (aged 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Spouse | Mary Hamilton Hewes |
| Occupation | Engraver, inventor |
Christian Gobrecht (December 23, 1785 – July 23, 1844) was the third Chief Engraver of the
coins.Early life and career
Gobrecht was born on December 23, 1785, in
Baltimore, Maryland, until he moved to Philadelphia in 1811 to join Murray, Draper, Fairman, and Company, an engraving firm, around 1816.[1] He invented a medal ruling machine in 1810, which he improved upon in 1817. In 1823, Mint Director Robert Patterson sought to engage Gobrecht as assistant director, but Gobrecht declined the position. Instead, in December, Gobrecht sought the position of chief engraver of the Mint, writing to President James Monroe. Instead, the position went to William Kneass.[3]
In addition to his professional activities, Gobrecht was an inventor, inventing improvements to the
melodeon, and the medal-ruling machine, which reproduces relief on a plain surface.[3]
Chief engraver of the U.S. Mint
There is extant documentation showing that Gobrecht worked for the Mint as early as 1823 immediately upon the death of the first chief engraver Robert Scot. This was only a temporary appointment until a new chief engraver
Gobrecht Dollars, which were minted briefly in small quantities from 1836 to 1839. Shortly after Kneass' death in 1840, Gobrecht was appointed Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint on December 21, 1840.[1] During his tenure as Chief Engraver of the Mint, Gobrecht produced perhaps what he is mainly known for, the Seated Liberty dollar, based on sketches by Thomas Sully, and Titian Peale. That design remained on U.S. coinage as late as 1891[1] Gobrecht died in July 1844; his place as chief engraver was taken by James B. Longacre.[4]
Additionally to engraving for the Mint, he also produced embossing plaque for bookbinding.[citation needed]
Bibliography
- Taxay, Don (1983). The U.S. Mint and Coinage (reprint of 1966 ed.). New York, N.Y.: Sanford J. Durst Numismatic Publications. ISBN 0-915262-68-1.
References
External links
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