James B. Longacre: Prolific Coin Designer, a Legendary Legacy
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Our latest article covers prolific coin designer James Barton Longacre, who served as the fourth chief engraver of the United States Mint from 1844 through 1869 and notched nearly a dozen significant numismatic credits.
We hope you enjoy this profile which you can see at: https://www.pcgs.com/news/james-b-longacre-prolific-coin-designer
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Thanks for the link, interesting article. I have joined the e-newsletter a couple of times, still have not received one. Cheers, RickO
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Great articles! You don't get the praise you deserve here. But I hope you keep it up.
Here's a 56-S $3 from Longacre, bought earlier this year from a longtime forum member.
Lance.
Thanks for posting the link. It is always of interest to read about Longacre's final design that led to the first Twenty Dollar Gold Coins that made it into circulation in 1850 after the 1849 pattern as you described:
"He also spawned several gold types, not to mention his 1849 Liberty Head Double Eagle pattern; it exists as a unique specimen held in safe keeping for public viewing at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C."
Relevant to the subject, here is my 1850 Liberty Head Double Eagle that once resided in Longacre's own personal collection. Given its auction history that began with its having come from his Estate, along with its unique appearance, it was likely one of, if not the first, 1850 Liberty Head Double Eagle minted. While described as a proof in that initial 1870 Estate auction, Max Mehl in a subsequent 1949 auction stated, "I classify it as brilliant semi-proof, almost equal to a brilliant proof."
(There does exist an 1850 Proof Liberty Head Double Eagle, but from the mint records it is apparent that it was minted many months later for a specific set of proof coins that eventually ended up in a Paris Museum.)