Christian Gobrecht
Encyclopedia
Christian Gobrecht was the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
from 1835 until his death in 1844. He was responsible for designing the famous "Seated Liberty
" designs, which were in turn the direct inspiration for the design of the Trade Dollar
. He also designed the Gobrecht Dollar
, which was struck in small quantities from 1836 to 1838 and later inspired the Flying Eagle cent
.
, to Reverend John C. Gobrecht, who came to America from Germany in 1755, and Elizabeth Sands, with ancestry going back to 1642 in the Plymouth Colony
. After apprenticing in Manheim, Pennsylvania
, he engraved ornamental clockworks in Baltimore, Maryland until he moved to Philadelphia in 1811 to join Murray, Draper, Fairman, and Company, an engraving firm, around 1816. In 1823, Mint Director Robert Patterson
sought to engage Gobrecht as assistant director, but Gobrecht declined the position. instead, in December, Gobrecht sought the position of chief engraver of the Mint, writing to President James Monroe
. Instead, the position went to William Kneass
.
In addition to his professional activities, Gobrecht was an inventor, inventing the camera lucida
, a talking doll, a kind of melodeon
, and the medal-ruling machine, which reproduces relief on a plane surface.
as early as 1826, and became the assistant to chief engraver William Kneass
in September 1835 after Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke on August 27 of that year. After Kneass' stroke, all pattern and die work was done by Gobrecht from then on, including Gobrecht Dollar
s, which were minted briefly in small quantities from 1836 to 1839. Shortly after Kneass' death in 1840, Gobrecht was appointed Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint on December 21, 1840. During his tenure of Chief Engraver of the Mint, Gobrecht produced perhaps what he is mainly known for, the Seated Liberty dollar
, based on sketches by Thomas Sully
, and Titian Peale
. That design remained on U.S. coinage as late as 1891 Gobrecht died in July 1844; his place as chief engraver was taken by James B. Longacre.
Additionally to engraving for the Mint, he also produced embossing plaque for bookbinding.
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
from 1835 until his death in 1844. He was responsible for designing the famous "Seated Liberty
United States Seated Liberty coinage
The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. The denominations which featured the Seated Liberty design included the half dime, the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and until 1873 the...
" designs, which were in turn the direct inspiration for the design of the Trade Dollar
Trade Dollar (United States coin)
The trade dollar was a United States dollar coin minted to compete with other large silver coins that were already popular in East Asia. The idea first came about in the 1860s, when the price of silver began to decline due to increased mining efforts in the western United States...
. He also designed the Gobrecht Dollar
Gobrecht Dollar
The Gobrecht dollar, minted from 1836 to 1839, was the first silver dollar struck for circulation by the United States Mint since production of that denomination was officially halted in 1806...
, which was struck in small quantities from 1836 to 1838 and later inspired the Flying Eagle cent
Flying Eagle cent
The Flying Eagle cent is a United States coin that was minted from 1856 to 1858. The coin was designed by James B. Longacre. The Flying Eagle was the first small-sized cent coin minted in the US, replacing the earlier large cent. The obverse of the coin depicts an eagle in flight, a unique subject...
.
Early life and career
Gobrecht was born on December 23, 1785, in Hanover, PennsylvaniaHanover, Pennsylvania
Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, southwest of York and north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by a 717 area code and the Zip Codes of 17331-34...
, to Reverend John C. Gobrecht, who came to America from Germany in 1755, and Elizabeth Sands, with ancestry going back to 1642 in the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. After apprenticing in Manheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP code: 17545*Area code: 717*Education: Manheim Central School District and Manheim Central High School-History:...
, he engraved ornamental clockworks in Baltimore, Maryland until he moved to Philadelphia in 1811 to join Murray, Draper, Fairman, and Company, an engraving firm, around 1816. In 1823, Mint Director Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson (educator)
Robert Patterson was an American educator and director of the United States Mint. He was born on a lease-held farm near Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1768, and lived for a time in Philadelphia.In 1774, he became principal of an academy in Wilmington, Delaware...
sought to engage Gobrecht as assistant director, but Gobrecht declined the position. instead, in December, Gobrecht sought the position of chief engraver of the Mint, writing to President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
. Instead, the position went to William Kneass
William Kneass
William Kneass was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif which appeared on Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle gold pieces from 1834-1839. He also modified John Reich's Capped Bust design on the dime through...
.
In addition to his professional activities, Gobrecht was an inventor, inventing the camera lucida
Camera lucida
A camera lucida is an optical device used as a drawing aid by artists.The camera lucida performs an optical superimposition of the subject being viewed upon the surface upon which the artist is drawing. The artist sees both scene and drawing surface simultaneously, as in a photographic double...
, a talking doll, a kind of melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
, and the medal-ruling machine, which reproduces relief on a plane surface.
Chief engraver of the U.S. Mint
Gobrecht provided dies to the United States MintUnited States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
as early as 1826, and became the assistant to chief engraver William Kneass
William Kneass
William Kneass was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif which appeared on Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle gold pieces from 1834-1839. He also modified John Reich's Capped Bust design on the dime through...
in September 1835 after Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke on August 27 of that year. After Kneass' stroke, all pattern and die work was done by Gobrecht from then on, including Gobrecht Dollar
Gobrecht Dollar
The Gobrecht dollar, minted from 1836 to 1839, was the first silver dollar struck for circulation by the United States Mint since production of that denomination was officially halted in 1806...
s, which were minted briefly in small quantities from 1836 to 1839. Shortly after Kneass' death in 1840, Gobrecht was appointed Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint on December 21, 1840. During his tenure of Chief Engraver of the Mint, Gobrecht produced perhaps what he is mainly known for, the Seated Liberty dollar
United States Seated Liberty coinage
The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. The denominations which featured the Seated Liberty design included the half dime, the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and until 1873 the...
, based on sketches by Thomas Sully
Thomas Sully
Thomas Sully was an American painter, mostly of portraits.-Early life:Sully was born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, to the actors Matthew and Sarah Sully. In March 1792 the Sullys and their nine children immigrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Thomas’s uncle managed a theater...
, and Titian Peale
Titian Peale
Titian Ramsay Peale was a noted American artist, naturalist, entomologist and photographer. He was the sixteenth child and youngest son of noted American naturalist Charles Willson Peale.-Biography:...
. That design remained on U.S. coinage as late as 1891 Gobrecht died in July 1844; his place as chief engraver was taken by James B. Longacre.
Additionally to engraving for the Mint, he also produced embossing plaque for bookbinding.