BIRCH, William Russell (1755-1834) Early American engraver,
diesinker; engraver U.S. Mint 1792.
Born Warwickshire, England 9 April 1755. Most writers
state Birch immigrated to America in 1794 with son, Thomas
Birch. More likely came in 1791 and engraved the famed
first dies, the Half Disme, Disme and Birch Cent for the
U.S. Mint in 1792 (but struck in John Harper's celler).
The family lived in Philadelphia until father moved to
country estate "Springland" in 1812. Returning to
Philadelphia in 1828, he remained there until his death,
7 August 1834. He wrote his autobiography, Reflections
(never published) but excerpts are included in Anne
Hollingsworth Wharton, Heirlooms in Miniatures (1898).
C O I N S
1792 Half Disme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1360-1361
1792 Disme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Breen 1362-1364
1792 Birch Cent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baker 37, Breen 1373-1375
1811 Jefferson (Thomas) Head in Bas-Relief. . . . . . . .
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 3 items.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
D3 {1911} Benezit (1999 14ed), 2:332.
D7 {1921} Bolton.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 29
D15 {1957} Groce and Wallace p 51.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 45.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 72-73.
AE1 {1988} Falk, 1:28.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 1:322.
D3a {2006} Benezit. Dictionary of Artists, 2:506-507.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
P2 {1982} Carlson (Carl W.A.) Birch and the Patterns of '92. The Numismatist 95:3 (March 1982)
S48 {1985} Rulau and Fuld (Baker) P37, p 48-49 (misstates name as "Robert Birch").
O12 {1988} Breen 1360-1364, p 153-55; 1373-1375 157-158; 161, 177, 179, 276, 678.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 30.
N36 {2002} Bowers, p 319-321 (1792 half disme).
diesinker; engraver U.S. Mint 1792.
Born Warwickshire, England 9 April 1755. Most writers
state Birch immigrated to America in 1794 with son, Thomas
Birch. More likely came in 1791 and engraved the famed
first dies, the Half Disme, Disme and Birch Cent for the
U.S. Mint in 1792 (but struck in John Harper's celler).
The family lived in Philadelphia until father moved to
country estate "Springland" in 1812. Returning to
Philadelphia in 1828, he remained there until his death,
7 August 1834. He wrote his autobiography, Reflections
(never published) but excerpts are included in Anne
Hollingsworth Wharton, Heirlooms in Miniatures (1898).
C O I N S
1792 Half Disme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 1360-1361
1792 Disme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Breen 1362-1364
1792 Birch Cent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baker 37, Breen 1373-1375
1811 Jefferson (Thomas) Head in Bas-Relief. . . . . . . .
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 3 items.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
D3 {1911} Benezit (1999 14ed), 2:332.
D7 {1921} Bolton.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 29
D15 {1957} Groce and Wallace p 51.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 45.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 72-73.
AE1 {1988} Falk, 1:28.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 1:322.
D3a {2006} Benezit. Dictionary of Artists, 2:506-507.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
P2 {1982} Carlson (Carl W.A.) Birch and the Patterns of '92. The Numismatist 95:3 (March 1982)
S48 {1985} Rulau and Fuld (Baker) P37, p 48-49 (misstates name as "Robert Birch").
O12 {1988} Breen 1360-1364, p 153-55; 1373-1375 157-158; 161, 177, 179, 276, 678.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 30.
N36 {2002} Bowers, p 319-321 (1792 half disme).