Jacob R. Eckfeldt
Encyclopedia
Jacob Reese Eckfeldt was an assayer
for the United States Mint
in Philadelphia.
, was chief coiner, and by his capabilities rapidly rose until he was made chief assayer. During his term of office, some English sovereigns were sent to the mint for recoinage, and they were reported by him as below the standard
claimed. This was confidently denied by the English authorities, who said, “It is impossible; the London mint
makes no mistakes.” Eckfeldt maintained that he was right, and subsequently an investigation showed that he was. The excitement in monetary circles that followed resulted in a parliamentary law ordering the closest possible examination of the weight and fineness
of all the coins in the world. It was found that those of the United States were more uniform than the coins of other nations, and thenceforth Eckfeldt's reputation as an assayer was world-wide. The office to which he was appointed during Andrew Jackson
's presidency he held until his death.
Assayer
An assayer is a person who tests ores and minerals and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use spectrographic analysis, chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as furnaces, beakers, graduates, pipettes, and crucibles.An assayer separates metals...
for the United States Mint
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...
in Philadelphia.
Biography
He early entered the U. S. Mint, where his father, Adam EckfeldtAdam Eckfeldt
Adam Eckfeldt was a worker and official in the early days of the United States Mint. A lifelong Philadelphian, Eckfeldt served as the second chief coiner of the Mint, from 1814 until 1839....
, was chief coiner, and by his capabilities rapidly rose until he was made chief assayer. During his term of office, some English sovereigns were sent to the mint for recoinage, and they were reported by him as below the standard
Standard
A technical standard is an established norm or requirement about technical systems. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes and practices. In contrast, a custom, convention, company product, corporate standard, etc...
claimed. This was confidently denied by the English authorities, who said, “It is impossible; the London mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
makes no mistakes.” Eckfeldt maintained that he was right, and subsequently an investigation showed that he was. The excitement in monetary circles that followed resulted in a parliamentary law ordering the closest possible examination of the weight and fineness
Fineness
The fineness of a precious metal refers to the ratio of the primary metal to any additives or impurities.A piece of alloy metal containing a precious metal may have the weight of its precious component referred to as its fine weight. For example, 1 troy ounce of 18 karat gold may be said to have a...
of all the coins in the world. It was found that those of the United States were more uniform than the coins of other nations, and thenceforth Eckfeldt's reputation as an assayer was world-wide. The office to which he was appointed during Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
's presidency he held until his death.