Early U.S. Mint engraver, Robert Scot, Hero or Villain?
BillJones
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I purchased a book, "Henry Voigt and Others Involved with America's Early Coinage" by Karl Moulton at the Summer FUN Show. This book was published in 2007. This book makes some claims with which I disagree. One of them is the assertion that Joseph Wright was primarily responsible for the design of the Libertas Americana medal. The author pretty much paints master French engraver, Augustin Dupre, a man with a great deal of talent, in my opinion, as technician who executed Wright’s design. I take strong issue with that, which leads me to question other assertions that the author makes.
The issue at hand, is how competent was Robert Scot, the U.S. Mint engraver and designer who has been given credit for the Draped Bust and other early American coin designs. According to Mr. Moulton, Scot was a jealous incompetent who couldn’t do his job well and depended on others, like John Smith Gardner, get the die making duties done. This view was re-enforced by an old article I found in the March, 2011 of The Numismatist where Eric Brothers comes to the same conclusion.
My impression of the Scot was that he came to the job with a lack of experience as a banknote engraver, but that he grew to competence rather rapidly. His ultimate output was the Draped Bust design for the silver coinage and the Capped Bust Right design for gold. I have admired both of these designs for many years.
So, which is it. Was Scot a loser as Brothers and Moulton claim, or was he good at his work? I know we have at least one published author on this board who has written about the subject. What do others think?
Comments
I think you're shining a bright light on today's engraving, minting and design process. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
The Draped Bust design is the best early (Pre seated) design in my opinion, so I'm a fan of Scot.
It is always important to look at the sources. In Moulton's harsh criticism of Scot, there are no sources referenced, it was incorrect speculative opinion. I need to be civil and will leave it at that, as Moulton recently passed away. There was a review of this book in the E-Sylum 12/2/2007 - google it.
Btw - there are no recorded engravings for John Smith Gardner before or after his Mint employment, and no evidence exists that he had the capability of engraving an original coinage design. He was an assistant only, this is in Mint records, along with his only surviving letter with I found at the Mint Archives, where he wanted to be sent to Great Britain to be trained as a melter and refiner - at the Mint's expense. The letter does not even mention engraving.
A lot of writers followed the unfounded speculation by Taxay and Breen about Robert Scot, and the mud-slinging got worse. Since my biography of Scot was published in 2015, it has been referenced and expanded upon in several specialist books including Harry Salyards new book on Draped Bust Small Eagle Dollars (highly recommend). He debunks the Stuart/Bingham myth.
A "banknote engraver" is not an accurate description of Scot, this was just the tip of the iceberg of his work. Scot did "engraving in all it's branches" prior to the Mint, except coinage die engraving which he learned to do very well. What has not been mentioned by previous authors is Scot's important engraving for officers of the American Revolution including the Seige of Yorktown, his instrumental role in American illustrated book publishing growth after the revolution, and his engraving of federal revenue stamps which helped to finance the re-building of the US Navy that enabled successful outcomes of the Quasi-War and First Barbary War - along with being the reason for the change to the Heraldic Eagle reverse.
This book traces Robert Scot's life womb to tomb, and documents hundreds of Scot's engravings, many pictured. There are many pages of primary sources in the bibliography
I side with Nysoto. Ponder this the draped bust design is like no other and he came up with it and then executed its engraving with ultimate precision. It still stands as one of if not the greatest American designed coin today. I am in new of his abilities. IMO Moulton was so completely wrong opinion wise it ain't funny.