Brain Teaser 1

Rittenhouse

In homage to Veridicus' Trivia Time series, which I've throughly enjoyed (keep up the good work), I thought I'd "kick it up a notch". These wil be TOUGH. There are perhaps 4 people who know the answers to this stuff, tho' you can figure it out with a little effort. I'll give hints.

Sooooo.......

Who was the engraver of the 1793 half cent? Provide historical proof for your answer.


Hints:

1. The answer has never been directly published in a book.
2. A book published in the 1960s contains one sentance from the historical record directly proving the answer.

No cheating by EACers who've figured out who I am and have read the article I published or RS members.

Good Luck,
Rittenhouse

MFH

Adam Eckfeldt

MFH

...oops, sorry, I forgot to mention that this answer is from Breen's encyclopedia

Rittenhouse

<< <i>Adam Eckfeldt >>



Sorry Mike, it wasn't Eckfeldt. In fact, Adam wasn't employed by the Mint in 1793. He didn't begin until 1795, and then as the "Die Forger and Turner".

Also, read the hints. I said the answer wasn't directly published in any book

Rittenhouse

MFH

Although you mentioned that the correct answer wasn't directly published in any book, and that only a passing reference was made in a 1960 publication, you and five others who know the correct answer ...
I await the correct answer.........It certainly wasn't Birch...or Scot... Could it be Wright ???

NJCollector

Thought it was Joseph Wright and Robert Birch with Robert Scot making the changes in 1794.

razorface1027

Walter Mould

IrishMike

Are you referring to a Stack's catalogue?

Rittenhouse

No not a Stack's catalog. And, the date of the book was my bad - thought Taxay had published the sentance. Actually, the ref never appeared in a book until Breen's large cent book in 2000. Since my bad, I'll post the sentance. This is from the Annals of Congress, Elias Boudinot's 1795 report to Congress on the Mint:

<i>It was also a considerable time before an engraver could be engaged, during which, the chief coiner was obliged to make the dies for himself; and yet the dies are subject to frequent failures and breaking.</i>

OK, now who made the half cent dies?

Rittenhouse

Hmm, looks like you guys gave up or lost interest. Anyway, Henry Voigt made the half cent dies.