HARPER, John (fl 1792-95) Colonial American engraver, diesinker; saw manufacturer.
The 1792 federal provisional coinage was struck in the cellar
of his coach house at Sixth and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia.
These were struck on his screw press (made by Adam Eckfeldt,
q.v.) first by artists from the area who proposed their work to
become Mint engravers, and then by Mint personnel (e.g.
William Russell Birch's provisional half dime, q.v.).
Three years later Harper cut the dies and struck one cent pieces,
later nicknamed "Jefferson cent" for slight resemblence to
Thomas Jefferson. Mint Director Boudinot confiscated Harper's
dies (and possibly reimbursed Harper $100 for them),
whereafter Harper issued a few of these one cent pieces cast
in copper.
C O I N S
1792 Provisional Pattern Half Dollar (engraved by Peter
Getz, struck in Harper's coach house). . Breen 1346-1351
1792 Provisional Pattern One Cent (engraved by Peter
Getz, struck in Harper's coach house). . Breen 1352-1359
1792 Provisional Pattern Half Dime (probably engraved
by William Russell Birch, struck Harper's coach
house) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1360
1795 "Jefferson" One Cent . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1678-1680
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N8 {1924} Stewart, p 92.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 11 (incorrectly named Robert Birch instead of William Russell Birch).
E8A {1951} Kenney Manuscript File.
O12 {1988} Breen 1346-1351, p 154-155, 1352-1359 155, 1360 155; 1678-1680, p 187-188.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 110.
Pn {1993} Hodder (Michael) Albion Cox and John Harper, Gleanings from the
Birmingham and Sheffield Archives. Penny-wise 27:2 (15 March 1993) pp 8-86.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.
The 1792 federal provisional coinage was struck in the cellar
of his coach house at Sixth and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia.
These were struck on his screw press (made by Adam Eckfeldt,
q.v.) first by artists from the area who proposed their work to
become Mint engravers, and then by Mint personnel (e.g.
William Russell Birch's provisional half dime, q.v.).
Three years later Harper cut the dies and struck one cent pieces,
later nicknamed "Jefferson cent" for slight resemblence to
Thomas Jefferson. Mint Director Boudinot confiscated Harper's
dies (and possibly reimbursed Harper $100 for them),
whereafter Harper issued a few of these one cent pieces cast
in copper.
C O I N S
1792 Provisional Pattern Half Dollar (engraved by Peter
Getz, struck in Harper's coach house). . Breen 1346-1351
1792 Provisional Pattern One Cent (engraved by Peter
Getz, struck in Harper's coach house). . Breen 1352-1359
1792 Provisional Pattern Half Dime (probably engraved
by William Russell Birch, struck Harper's coach
house) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1360
1795 "Jefferson" One Cent . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1678-1680
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N8 {1924} Stewart, p 92.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 11 (incorrectly named Robert Birch instead of William Russell Birch).
E8A {1951} Kenney Manuscript File.
O12 {1988} Breen 1346-1351, p 154-155, 1352-1359 155, 1360 155; 1678-1680, p 187-188.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 110.
Pn {1993} Hodder (Michael) Albion Cox and John Harper, Gleanings from the
Birmingham and Sheffield Archives. Penny-wise 27:2 (15 March 1993) pp 8-86.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.