ECKFELDT, Adam (1769-1852) diesinker, engraver, coiner;
employed by U.S. Mint from its inception, 1792, until
his retirement, 1839. Full name: John Adam Eckfeldt.
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 June 1769.
He first did blacksmith work for the emerging Mint,
then piecework beginning 1 July 1795; he built much
of the equipment for the new Mint. Ultimately he was
appointed by President Madison as chief coiner 15
February 1814 despite the fact he had been in this
position since 1 January 1796. He directed the
establishment of the mint cabinet of coins, 1838.
A retirement medal in gold, bearing his portrait
engraved by Moritz Furst, was bestowed to him in
1839 (and offered in bronze to collectors, MT-18).
Died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 February 1852.
C O I N S
1792 Disme Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1362
1792 Pattern Quarter Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1365
1793 Half Cent (delineated by David Rittenhouse, engraved
by Eckfeldt) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1501-1503
S E A L S
1800 United States State Department Seal. . . . . . . . .
Portrait of Eckfeldt by Moritz Furst:
1839 Eckfeldt (Adam) Medal . Neuzil 54, Julian MT-18
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N3 {1885} Evans.
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 2:7, 7:246.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 8.
A15 {1971} Vermeule, p 27.
Px {1976} Breen. On The Eckfeldt Process at the First United States Mint. Colonial
Newsletter (May 1976) p 543, (October 1976) p
M37 {1977} Julian MT-18, p 191.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 32-33.
O12 {1988} Breen 1362, p 156; 1365 156; 1501-1503 161-162; 92, 113, 152-3, 185, 179,
181, 188-89, 200, 308, 341, 374, 393, 425, 432, 434, 490, 521, 677.
P3 {1991} Gilkes (Paul) Early Americans Dislike Half Cent Coin; Adam Eckfeldt
Designer of 1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent. Coin World 32:1641 (25 September 1991) p 34-35.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 79.
employed by U.S. Mint from its inception, 1792, until
his retirement, 1839. Full name: John Adam Eckfeldt.
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 June 1769.
He first did blacksmith work for the emerging Mint,
then piecework beginning 1 July 1795; he built much
of the equipment for the new Mint. Ultimately he was
appointed by President Madison as chief coiner 15
February 1814 despite the fact he had been in this
position since 1 January 1796. He directed the
establishment of the mint cabinet of coins, 1838.
A retirement medal in gold, bearing his portrait
engraved by Moritz Furst, was bestowed to him in
1839 (and offered in bronze to collectors, MT-18).
Died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 February 1852.
C O I N S
1792 Disme Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1362
1792 Pattern Quarter Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1365
1793 Half Cent (delineated by David Rittenhouse, engraved
by Eckfeldt) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1501-1503
S E A L S
1800 United States State Department Seal. . . . . . . . .
Portrait of Eckfeldt by Moritz Furst:
1839 Eckfeldt (Adam) Medal . Neuzil 54, Julian MT-18
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N3 {1885} Evans.
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 2:7, 7:246.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 8.
A15 {1971} Vermeule, p 27.
Px {1976} Breen. On The Eckfeldt Process at the First United States Mint. Colonial
Newsletter (May 1976) p 543, (October 1976) p
M37 {1977} Julian MT-18, p 191.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 32-33.
O12 {1988} Breen 1362, p 156; 1365 156; 1501-1503 161-162; 92, 113, 152-3, 185, 179,
181, 188-89, 200, 308, 341, 374, 393, 425, 432, 434, 490, 521, 677.
P3 {1991} Gilkes (Paul) Early Americans Dislike Half Cent Coin; Adam Eckfeldt
Designer of 1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent. Coin World 32:1641 (25 September 1991) p 34-35.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 79.