Which Director of the U.S. Mint didn't want the job and got out as fast as he could? Answered.
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
This should be either easy or hard, depending on whether you read obsolete materials or newer books.
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@FredWeinberg ?
Actually, a great question and a great clue
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I'm going to guess the second one. I just read something about the first US dollars being made in secret with too much silver!
A. Piatt Andrew? Apptd. in 1909 by then Pres. William Howard Taft. Just a guess.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Nope. Sorry, a good guess. As asst. sec. of Treasury, Andrew kept his thumb on the Mint and was also very interested in coin collectors. He helped set up a sting operation to try and confiscate some pattern coins. He was also responsible for the order to issue satin proof gold for 1909-1910. As director he insisted on introducing automation even though some of it was not fully tested and soon failed.
Henry William De Saussure?
He was appointed but never confirmed by the Senate. He served from July to October 1795.
Gold coins were introduced during his watch as well the Draped Bust design. He got a lot done during his brief time, but wanted no part of job on a long term basis.
One black mark on his record. He continued to allow the mint to issue .900 silver coins although the law specified .8925. As a result consignors were short changed.
Wasn't there one c. 1850 that was there for only a month?
Yep - but Thomas M. Pettit seemed to like the job and expressed no interest in hitting the grave suddenly.
No correct answers yet. Maybe the prize should be increased from "nothing" to "zero?"
I am going to take a swag. William Millward.
Sorry, not Millward.
Well, the answer is in The History of US Mint.
Any more guesses?
Drost? But he never took the position.
Colonel is right - I turned down the Mint Directors job,
because I was holding out for the title of:
Now THAT's the job I want !
Mint director Robert Woolley had recommended Fredrich Johann Hugo von Engelken to secretary McAdoo for President of the Federal Land Bank in March and April 1916, but McAdoo wanted someone else. With the directorship vacant as of July 31, Woolley again supported von Engelken, this time as his replacement. McAdoo agreed to the appointment and von Engelken became mint director. Von Engelken knew nothing about coinage or the mints and took the job only to keep close to Washington in hopes of getting a Land Bank job. He accomplished little and bungled the new Standing Liberty quarter while alienating several coin designers and artists. Mary O’Reilly did most of the work.
In March 1917, President Wilson appointed him president of the Federal Land Bank of the Third District.
Thanks for posting this, Roger! A fun puzzle.
You're welcome! Free to use however you wish.
How do you mean that he bungled the new S.L. quarter? I referred to your book and see where he crudely altered a struck pattern by removing two leaves from the design. Or were you referring to the fact that the suits just dragged their heels on the quarter until the year was almost over?
Von Engelken bungled the quarter. MacNeil had submitted a revised obverse design in late August. This was approved by the Sec of Treasury. Von Engelken did not seem to comprehend the multiple reasons for the change (or anything else about coinage) and stuck with the old design. He also refused to permit MacNeil to be contacted about difficulties or to allow any suggestions. Hence, when political pressure from the White House demanded that all three new designs be issued in 1916, he permitted a poor quality hub to be used in December.
He also messed with the half and dime, but faced a savvy sculptor and determined mint staff, so he was basically pushed aside.
The error guy running the Mint - something about the fox and hen house comes to mind
There would be a lot more errors coming out of the mint!