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GOBRECHT, Christian  (1785-1844) engraver, diesinker,
          medalist, inventor; served as engraver, U.S. Mint
          Philadelphia, 1834-1844, Chief Engraver 1840-1844.
          Born Hanover, Pennsylvania, 23 December 1785.
          Engaged in watch engraving while still a youth and
          invented a medallion-engraver (anaglyptograph) in
          1817. He did diesinking first in Philadelpha, then
          Baltimore, before being hired as assistant engraver to
          William Kneass at the Philadelphia Mint in 1834. He
          replaced Kneass as Chief Engraver on the later's death
          August 1840.
          His most noted creations were his Flying Eagle silver
          dollar patterns of 1836 and he created three different
          coin designs which appeared on nine U.S. denominations.
          Died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 23 July 1844.
          Had remained Chief Engraver until his death, replaced
          by James B. Longacre.
          Gobecht held in high esteem by collectors with numismatic
          periodical Gobrecht Journal devoted to his life's work.

            C   O   I   N   S

1840-57 Half Cent Coronet Head. . . . . . . . Breen 1579-1630
1835 One Cent (by William Kneass & Gobrecht). Breen 1862-1873
1839 One Cent Braided Hair (by Gobrecht). . . Breen 1874-1923
1837 Liberty Seated Half Dime . . . . . . . . Breen 3007-3093
1837 Liberty Seated Dime. . . . . . . . . . . Breen 3217-3317
1838 Liberty Seated Quarter . . . . . . . . . Breen 3935-3988
1836 Capped Bust Half Dollar. . . . . . . . . Breen 4731-4739
1838 Liberty Seated Half Dollar . . . . . . . Breen 4740-4929
1836 Flying Eagle Dollar. . . . . . . . . . . Breen 5409-5424
1840 Liberty Seated Dollar. . . . . . . . . . Breen 5425-5472
1840 Coronet Head Quarter Eagle Gold. . . . . Breen 6154-6329
1839 Coronet Head Half Eagle Gold . . . . . . Breen 6519-6801
1838 Coronet Head Eagle Gold. . . . . . . . . Breen 6849-7093
2006 San Francisco Old Mint $5 Gold Coin (obv design
            by Charles Vickers, computer model by Joseph
            Menna; rev eagle design from Gobrecht’s 1839
          Coronet Head $5 coin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KM 395
          Illustrated: O16 {2010} Jordan, Modern Commems, p . 256

          C   O   I   N     S   E   R   I   E   S

First Spouse Series:

2008 Van Buren (Martin) Liberty Lady Gold Coin (obv
            Christian Gobrecht’s 1837 Liberty Seated design,
          rev designed by Thomas Cleveland, modeled by
          Jim Licaretz; struck by U.S. Mints). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8)
2010 Buchanan (James) Lady Liberty Gold Coin (obv
          Gobrecht’s 1840 Coronet Head, rev design by
          David Westwood, computer model by Joseph
          Menna; struck by U.S. Mints). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (15)

          M  E  D  A  L     S  E  R  I  E  S

United States Presidential Medals:

1837 Van Buren (Martin) Presidential Medal (dies by
          Gobrecht and Moritz Furst) . . . . . . . . . Julian PR-6
          Auctions:. . . . . . BMP 2:5745; PCA 50:321, PCA 59:441,
                    PCA 64:255, PCA 68:220, PCA 68:430, PCA 73:432
1841 Tyler (John) Presidental Medal (obv model by Ferdinand
          Pettrich, dies cut by Gobrecht). . . . . . . Julian PR-8
          Auctions:. . . .  BMP 2:5747-5748; PCA 43:7, PCA 65:365,
                    PCA 68:221
1846 Polk (James K.) Presidential Medal (obv model by
          John Gadsby Chapman, dies cut by Gobrecht) . Julian PR-9
          Auctions:. . . .  PCA 64:258, PCA 65:366, PCA 68:222-223,
                    PCA 68:431, PCA 73:433
1849 Taylor (Zachary) Presidential Medal (obv model by
          Henry Kirke Brown, dies cut by Gobrecht) . .  Julian PR-10
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 68:224

Franklin Institute Medals:

1824 Franklin Institute Medal (designed by Thomas Sully,
          engraved by Gobrecht) [dates/issued: 1824-74]
          struck by U.S. Mint. . . . . . . Harkness PA-45, Julian AM-17,
             Freeman 186, Greenslett GM-90, Fuld FR.M.FR.4
          Auctions:. . . .  . . BMP 2:5488-5489; J&J 3:505, J&J 7:394,
                    J&J 12:389; NAS 22:1778-1780, NAS 65:2143-2146;
                    PCA 45:282, PCA 46:229, PCA 49:425, PCA 50:373,
                    PCA 51:313, PCA 52:382, PCA 52:394, PCA 55:226,
                    PCA 59:464, PCA 59:1905, PCA 62:346, PCA 66:342,
                    PCA 68:557, PCA 71:486, PCA 72:570, PCA 73:592.
                    PCA 75:356, PCA 78:431
          Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] 0000.999.18212
          Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . . . . . 195
          Exhibited: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts {1826). 411
            Illustrated: M57 {2007} Jaeger-Bowers, 100 Greatest    #65
            Illustrated: Jaeger M61 {2008} U.S. Tokens, Medals, p 246
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . .131
1845 Franklin Institute Second Premium Medal [dates/
          issued: 1845-1853] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian AM-18,
                                                     Greenslett GM-94, Fuld FR.M.FR.6
          Auctions:. . . . . . .BMP 2:5488; J&J 10:1787; NAS 22:1782,
                    NAS 65:2273; PCA 46:1243, PCA 60:319, PCA 62:347,
                    PCA 63:1645, PCA 71:487, PCA 75:357, PCA 82:332
1845ca Franklin Institute Obverse Portrait Shell (this obv
          employed for issues AM-12 to AM-18) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
          Auctions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .  PCA 84:346
1845ca Franklin Institute Scott Premium Medal (unsigned but
          attributed to Gobrecht). . . . Harkness Pa-55, Julian AM-19,
                                                                                           Fuld FR.N.FR.6
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PCA 52:363
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . .132   1845ca Franklin Institute Scott Premium Medal (unsigned
          but attributed to Gobrecht with unusual "emblem" as
          signature on truncation; rev lettering in die includes
          one line--AWARDED TO-- as horizontal inscription;
          dates/issued:184?- ]. . . . . . Harkness PA-60,  Julian AM-20,
                                                                                       Greenslett GM-92
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . .J&J 5:501; PCA 56:354, PCA 59:465
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . .132
1845ca Franklin Institute Scott Premium Medal (unsigned
          but attributed to Gobrecht; rev lettering in die entirely
          adjacent to rim –as legend–with recipient’s name, data,
          date hand inscribed). . . . .Harkness PA-65,  Julian AM-20A
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . .132
n.d. Jackson (Andrew) Indian Peace and Franklin Institute
          Reverse Mule Medal [obv IP-16, rev AM-17 by Christian
          Gobrecht; probably struck in 1880s]. . . . . . . .
          Collection: American Numismatic Society. 0000.999.30341

          M   E   D   A   L   S

1821 Peale's Philadelphia Museum Medal (obv portrait
          Charles Willson Peale, museum owner; struck at U.S.
          Mint about 1830) . . . . PA 398, Freeman 414, Julian UN-22
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . PCA 46:25, PCA 47:125, PCA 47:1177,
                    PCA 51:41, PCA 56:359, PCA 82:50
          Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 392:383
            Illustrated: N43 {2011} Orosz and Augsburger . . . . .  p 77
1821 Peale's Philadelphia Museum Bearer Pass Medal (obv
          portrait Charles Willson Peal, rev number) . . . . . .PA 398,
                                                                                                   Julian UN-23
          Auctions:. . . . . . BMP 1:4735; NAS 65:2190; PCA 55:28,
                    PCA 56:44
          Illustrated: N43 {2011} Orosz and Augsburger . . . . .  p 77
1826 Carroll (Charles) of Carrollton Medal. . . . . .. .  Julian PE-6
          Auctions:. . . . . . BMP 2:5375, BMP 2:5922; PCA 49:410,
                    PCA 62:332, PCA 68:536-537
          Illustrated: M57 {2007} Jaeger-Bowers, 100 Greatest #93
1826 New England Society for Promotion of Manufacturers
          and Mechanical Arts Medal (obv Archimedes, Galileo,
          Newton). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harkness Reg-60, Julian AM-55,
                                                                                                 Storer 1509
          Auctions:. . . BMP 2:5530-5532; PCA 49:428, PCA 64:637,
                    PCA 70:646
          Collection: American Numismatic Society .0000.999.44984
            Illustrated: Jaeger M61 {2008} U.S. Tokens, Medals, p  240
          Illustrated: Vermeule A15 {1971} Numismatic Art p. . . . 39
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . .165
1836 United States Mint First Steam Coinage Medal
          (February inscription). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Julian MT-20
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BMP 2:5360
          Illustrated: M57 {2007} Jaeger-Bowers, 100 Greatest .  #44
          Illustrated: N43 {2011} Orosz and Augsburger . . . . .  p 180
1836 United States Mint First Steam Coinage Medal
          (March inscription) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Julian MT-21
          Auctions:. . . BMP 1:5385, BMP 2:5361-5362; J&J 10:1890,
                       J&J 17:907; J&J 17:925, J&J 21:606; NAS 65:2139;
                    PCA 45:1745, PCA 46:1230, PCA 57:1739-1740
          Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 0000.999.3325
          Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . .. . 370:238
          Illustrated: N43 {2011} Orosz and Augsburger . . . . .  p 180
1837 Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Medal
          [dates/issue: 1837-95] . . . . Harkness MA-70, Julian AM-33,
                                                                                                     Storer 1308
          Auctions:. . .. .BMP 2:5504-5505; CAL 28:876; J&J 26:739;
                    NAS 65:1892; PCA 48:524, PCA 50:374, PCA 54:294,
                    PCA 55:1600, PCA 59:3, PCA 62:350, PCA 64:635,
                    PCA 65:1693, PCA 66:343, PCA 70:644, PCA 71:490-491,
                    PCA 72:571, PCA 78:433
          Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1956.163.1393
          Illustrated: Jaeger M61 {2008} U.S. Tokens, Medals, p . 240
          Illustrated: M63 {2009} Harkness & Corio, page . . . . . . . 58
 1839c United Bowmen of Philadelphia Medal (attributed
          to Gobrecht by Joseph Levine). . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian UN-35
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  BMP 2:5584; PCA 64:642

          L   I   S   T     M   E   D   A   L   S

1836 United States Mint First Steam Coinage Medal (with
          March inscription) [MT-21] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List 622
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 19:1265

          S   E   A   L   S

n.d. Pennsylvania Hospital Philadelphia Seal. . . . . . .
n.d. Saint Peter's Church Philadelphia Seal . . . . . . .

          R E P L I C A   M E D A L   S E R I E S

1966-81 Hanover Numismatic Society Medal Series (replicating
          many Gobrecht coins and medals). . . . . . . . . . .
          Complete Set of 34 Medals:
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  PCA 57:516
Group of 7 Medals:
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  J&J 20:221
1968 Hanover Numismatic Society Benjamin Franklin by
          Gobrecht Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . Greenslett GM-251

          R  E  P  L  I  C  A  S    &    R  E  I  S  S  U  E  S

1834 Glorious Whig Victory Token (Liberty Cap copied by an
          unknown engraver from Gobrecht's 1836 pattern gold
          dollar and First Steam Coinage Medal). . . . . . . Low 7
          Auctions:. . . . . . .  BMP 1:4504; PCA 64:375, PCA 65:8,
                    PCA 75:6,
1845ca Glorious Whig Victory Medal (rev device after
          Gobrecht's Liberty Cap design of 1836) . . . . . . .
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  PCA 66:5
1860ca Washington (George) and Charles Willson Peale
          Medal (Washington obv by Robert Lovett Jr, muled with
          Gobrecht's Peale portrait U.S. Mint UN-2). . Baker J-220
1892 Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Asociation
          Eigthteenth Exhibition Medal. . . . . . . .  Storer 1318
1976 Carroll (Charles) of Carrollton Medal (reissue of 1826
          Medal, PE-6, with addition of bicentennial
          dates on obv) . . Turner 42, Dean D1976-2, Swoger 408
          Auctions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CAL 29:1110
          Illustrated: M60 {2008}Dean, National Comm Medals, p 57
          Illustrated: M62 {2008}Swoger, Nat Comm Medals p 263
1976 Gobrecht (Christian) Medal (by Joseph Dinardo) . . .
          Auctions:. . . . . . CAL 29:763; J&J 21:405; PCA 70:1345
          Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . . 1983.12.2
          Illustrated: P4 {1981} TAMS Journal 21:3 (October) p 146
1985 Philadelphia Coin Club 50th Anniversary Medal (obv
          Gobrecht's Liberty Seated from 1976 medal by Dinardo)
          Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 70:1356

          A  R C  H   I  V  E  S

AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1 partial microfilm real P24.

          C  O  L  L  E  C  T  I  O  N  S

C4  {1912} Comparette 238, p 370; 383 392.
C14 {1996} Marqusee 195, p 39, (biography) 92.

          B I O G R A P H I C A L  R E F E R E N C E S

Px  {1844] Philadelphia Public Ledger (25 Jul 1844) 2:7.
E1  {1883} DuBois, p 14.
Px  {1906} Darrach (Charles Gobrecht)  Christian Gobrecht, Artist and Inventor             
          Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 30:3 (July 1906) pp 355-358.
D8  {1926} Fielding, p 140, 470.
BE  {1943} Webster's Biographical Dictionary, p 601.
BDAB{1946} Dictionary of American Biography, 4:1 pp 336- by J.J. [Joseph Jackson].
D15 {1957} Groce and Wallace p 263.
BH  {1963} Who Was Who, p 196.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 331.
AE1 {1988} Falk, 1:82.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 2:1305.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 6:352.

          N U M I S M A T I C   R E F E R E N C E S

N3  {1888} Evans.
E3  {1902-30} Forrer 2:284, 7:370-373.
P2  {1909} Adams (Edgar H.)  Beautiful Coin Types by a Calico Designer. The             Numismatist 22:1 (January 1909) p 2.
P2  {1911} The Numismatist 24:12 (December) pp 417-418 (reprinted in Forrer).
M10 {1923} Storer (Massachusetts) 1308, p 169 (pl 21), 1318 170, 1509 194 (pl 25).
N8  {1924} Stewart, p 87.
P2  {1940} The Numismatist 53: p 483.
Px  {1944} Coffin (Joseph)  Christian Gobrecht Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine 10:             (1944) p 889-890.
E8  {1951} Kenney, p 10-11.
E8A {1951} Kenney Manuscript File.
H40 {1954} Breen. The Secret History of the Gobrecht Coinage, 1836-1840, Coin             Collector's Journal (1954).
Px  {1963} An American Medal [Charles Carroll by Gobrecht].  Antiques 83:2 (February        1963) p 220.
M21 {1964} Freeman, 186, 414, p 91, 200-201.
S26 {1968} Turner 42.
A15 {1971} Vermeule, passim.
N21 {1974} Clain-Stefanelli, color photographs: miniature painting of Gobrecht,                                     
          drawings by him, dies, galvano, struck pieces, illustrations pp 160-     161, text 167.
Px  {1974} Gobrecht Journal. First issue December 1974; devoted entirely to                              
          issues of C. Gobrecht, particularly his Liberty Seated coinages.
I2a   {1976} Iacocca (Michael G.). Medals to Honor Mint's Chief Engravers. Coin World
17:863 (27 October 1976) p 62-63 [mint engraver planed series, never struck].
M37 {1977} Julian [drawing, Gobrecht, number 14, p xxii]
E13 {1978} Amos, p 211-213.
Px  {1978} Price (Helen)  Mint Engravers–Unsung Heroes; The Men and Their Coins.              Paramount Journal 5:3 (Fall 1978) p 28-30 (includes Gobrecht).
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 48-49.
N27 {1984} Jung, p 119.
S48 {1985} Rulau and Fuld (Baker) J-220, p 100.
O12 {1988} Breen 1579-1630, p 173-176; 1862-1873 209- 210; 1874-1923 211-214;             
          3007-3093 284-293; 3217-3317 309-315; 3935-3988 345-349; 4731- 4739 391-            
          393; 4740-4929 394-404; 5409-5424 434-436; 5425-5472 436-440; 6154-6329             
          493- 502; 6519-6801 530-541; 6849-7093 548-558.
N30 {1991} Bowers. Commemorative Coins, p 708-709 (bio).
101  {1991} Clain-Stefanelli (Elivira)  From the Drawing Board of a Coin-Engraver:             
          Sketches by Christial Gobrecht For the Coinage of 1836- 1839. Wolfeboro: The             
          American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology; pp 79-98.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 101.
S55 {1993} Greenslet, GM-90, p 41, GM-91 42, GM 93 42, GM-94 43; GM-251 107.
N33 {1998} Bowers, p 30, 136, 138.
N36 {2002} Bowers, More Adventures, p 192-196 (1848 CAL quarter eagle gold), 172,     284.
N37 {2005} Burdette. Renaissance of American Coinage ,p 1:5, 59, 102, 210, 302;             2:113; 3:9-10
M57 {2007} Jaeger (Katherine) and Bowers (Q. David)  100 Greatest American Medals            
          and Tokens. 1836 First Steam Coinage Medal listed as #44, p 90; 1824 Franklin
            Institute Medal listed as #65, p76; 1826 Carroll (Charles) of Carrollton Medal             
          listed as #93, p 104; 1837 Massahusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Medal listed 
          as #171 in second 100 greatest, p 114.
M61 {2008} Jaeger (Katherine) Guide Book of United States Tokens and Medals, p 240, 246.
M60 {2008} Dean, National Commemorative Medals of U.S. Mint; D1976-2, p 57
M62 {2008} Swoger, National Commemorative Medals, 408, p 262-263.
O16 {2010} Jordan (Eric) Modern Commemorative Coins … Featuring U.S. Coins from
          1982 to Date. Iola, WI: Krause  Publications (2010) p 256.
N43 {2011} Orosz and Augsburger. The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint, p 37.
"There has been no scholar better qualified to create 'the American Forrer' than Dick Johnson."
-Cornelius C. Vermule III, Curator Emeritus
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Torrington, CT ✹ 860-482-1103
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