US Mint Engraver Allen Leonard … ?
RogerB
Posts: 8,967 ✭✭✭✭✭
Philadelphia
November 21, 1845
[Excerpt]
“If you think well enough of me to give me your cordial support to the Secretary, I , on my honor as a man will do all I can towards placing the character of our coin at once on a level with the best in Europe, and I tell you candidly I think we can excel. I will make arrangement also to speedily become a master at modeling. With your permission I will call and see you the day after the session of Congress commences. You will please then give me a decided answer whether you will sustain me or not.
Yours, Very respectfully,
Allen Leonard”
The opinion of Director Patterson was that the Mint needed someone to make excellent original models in wax or plaster, and that “any good mechanic” could use the portrait lathe to make reductions and prepare dies. Elsewhere, Patterson notes that Longacre was hired for the latter purpose and not as a coin or medal designer and modeler.
Anyone want to find out more about Allen Leonard?
Comments
Sure.
Yes.
Sounds like Allen Leonard was a go-getter.
“...You will please then give me a decided answer whether you will sustain me or not.”
Allen Leonard had designed the Mint's John Quincy Adams presidential medal.
Was this letter for his candidacy for the position of Chief Engraver after the passing of Christian Gobrecht?
Here are a couple of medals by Leonard:
1844 Henry Clay Wealth of Nations Medal, White Metal, DeWitt HC 1844-6
General F Pierce - Our Country Right or Wrong Medal, White Metal, DeWitt FP 1851-1
This looks like a medal for Franklin Pierce, Brigadier General of the US Army and 14th President of the United States. Franklin Pierce attained the rank of Brigadier General on March 3, 1847 while participating in the Mexican-American War.
Some searching brought up the following post regarding an engraver with the name Allen Leonard in Richmond, Virginia circa 1862 who said he was born in New York. Does this sound like the same Allen Leonard here?
http://www.confederatevets.com/documents/leonard_va_1.html
It is a nice letter requesting support.....rather begging for support...
I wonder if it was the same person later described in @Zoins post....Cheers, RickO
I would like to know more about Leonard and his background.
There are several letters by or about Leonard in the NARA E-1 1844 and 1845 file boxes. Patterson did not think he was a competent artist at modeling, although fine at die sinking.
Quite a few mentions of medals he engraved on NNP:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/searchwithterms?searchterm=Allen%20Leonard