U.S. Mint history 1794-1839?

GOLDSAINT

U.S. Mint history 1794-1839?

I was very impressed by some of the work others have done on the pictures and coin histories added to their Registry sets. My wife and I thought we might like to do the same but with a little twist, we thought we might like to add information on what was happening at the U.S. mint during some of the early years.

In general we will work this year on our Bust Half Registry set. I know there are volumes of information about the U.S. mint among our group, and I was wondering if some of you might help us in our information gathering. Who out there can offer some interesting bits of info. about the goings on in specific years at the Mint from 1794 to 1839?

PhillyJoe

That would be me. You've picked a rather large group of years. My last trip I copied 1874-1886, but have not gotten into the correspondence for those years yet. As I've told others, I will help out in any way I can, but it takes time. Even with the relatively recent 1874-1886 period, they were missing the records for 1875 & 1877. I won't know what is available in your time period until I pull the records. My looooooong range plan is to build a reference file cabinet with copies of everything I can get my hands on. The thought of looking at original letters written by Washington and Jefferson gives me the willies. The only downside I have found so far is too much info on assay offices/records (boring IMO) and the crushing amount of data on U.S gold & silver purchases,inventories, transfers & verbage concerning the state of gold and silver coinage for every country in the world. All important info at the time, as millions of dollars of precious metals are moving all over the world, but it isn't my focus.

The amount of information is overwhelming, but vacation time is right around the corner.

Joe

Rittenhouse

What do you want? Over the last 20 years I've gathered the records on minting equip & technology, many records on copper, and some on silver. RW Julian has all of the fiscal and mintage records.

ScarsdaleCoin

wow, great post....I would be very interested in any tidbits on three cent silvers from 1851 to 1873 if anyone has anything ???????? sounds like you guys do

GOLDSAINT

In my particular case what I am looking for is who/ why/ when/ where etc.

Things like who was the Mint director, why did they pick a particular design,who made the decisions on a design, who was the lady on the coin, who was supplying metals, where was the mint exactly located, what type of building was it in. Were there any problems or scandals etc. etc.The mint was burned during this period is that correct? Anything in particular, that may be of interest in a specific year.

Thanks for your help

Rittenhouse

If you're intent on doing a thorough job, suggest a little preparation first: Taxay, "US Mint and Coinage", then Stewart, "First US Mint". These are available from most book dealers - Charlie Davis or John Burns typically stock copies. I would then suggest a reading of Edgar Souders' "Bust Half Fever", he covers several of the questions you ask; I provided info from the Mint Records. Carother's "Fractional Money" will serve on the fiscal history. I've also published a few articles in JRCS. From there I'd seek out RW Julian, John Kraljevich, and myself for further discussion.

Mint Directors
David Rittenhouse: April 1792 - June 1795
Henry DeSaussure: July 1795 - Oct 1795
Elias Boudinot: Oct 1795 - July 1805
Robert Patterson: Jan 1806 - July 1824
Samuel Moore: July 1824 - July 1835
Robert Maskell Paterson: July 1835 - July 1851

Mint Engravers
Henry Voigt: 1792 - 1793
John Wright: August 1793 (died of yellow fever Sept 1793, executed head punch for cents)
Robert Scot: Nov 1793 - Nov 1823
John Gardner: Nov 1794 - March 1796 (asst engraver)
John Reich: April 1807 - March 1817
William Kneass: Jan 1824 - Aug 1840 (crippled by stroke Aug 1835)
Christian Gobrecht: Sept 1835 - July 1844

Note: Although claimed by many as an engraver, the Mint Records show that Adam Eckfeldt never engraved any dies for the US MInt.

GOLDSAINT

Thanks Rittenhouse,
This is a good start!