BLACK, Samuel H. (active 1858-65) electrotyper and gilder, New York City.
Applied the technology of electroplating–known in America in the silverware industry
since 1847–to bas-relief items, using medals for patterns of large items, or small bas-reliefs
as models for medals. He made electrotypes of numismatic specimens too scarce for some
collectors to ever own. These were sold among collectors and dealers and included in auction
sales but were always identified as electrotypes. These were looked on with favor when they
were identified as electrotypes, until unscrupulous persons began selling them without the
designation and naive collectors assumed these as originals.
Black issued at least six different storecards according to Dave Schenkman, all in 27mm size,
identical to the U.S. large cent, currently being phased out in America as the Mint began striking
small cents, Flying Eagle and Indian Head designs. These are listed below as struck in lead and
copper plated.
One 1860 store card by Black was issued with his middle initial as “N” instead of H and misspells
electrotyper as “ELECTROYPER” without second T. He moved often, of his six storecards, they
bear five different addresses in New York City.Samuel Black was active both before and after
the Civil War (with addresses in New York City), but Levine extends his activity to 1876 (doubtful).
Issued storecards (Adams 61-68) where he calls himself an electrotyper and, in 1859, a gilder
(both these activities employ the same electrochemical techniques and equipment).
Black was a shorttime partner in Friend and Black (se producers).
This is believed to be Henry Friend, active in New York City
since 1851 as a diesinker. The partnership lasted for only a year.
see atorecard Miller NY 65, below).
C A M P A I G N I T E M S
1864 McClellan (George) "Copperhead" Galvano Medal
(electrotype). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt GMcC 1864-96
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 42:284, PCA 63:117
G A L V A N O C A S T S
1859 National Medallion Declaration of Independence Plaque
(large size with medal images). . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . BMP 1:4324; CAL 33:1244; CAL 35:6;
PCA 50:430, PCA 55:242, PCA 57:433, PCA 60:341,
PCA 63:389, PCA 71:522
1859 Signing of the Declaration of Independence Plaque (by
Samuel Black with single medal by C.C. Wright after
Trumbull's painting, Signing) with text behind and
facsimilie signatures below). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . CAL 29:301, CAL 30:112, CAL 32:1472,
CAL 33:1245; J&J 7:460, J&J 21:2, J&J 26:388;
PCA 46:332, PCA 49:1284, PCA 51:1065, PCA 55:1626,
PCA 61:349, PCA 70:668, PCA 73:601, PCA 81:1822
Auction: Rago Art & Auction (12 May 2012) lot . . . . 139
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . . 376:272
Collection: Yale University Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
1865 University of Alabama Medal (an electrotype or galvano
medal which may have been made by Black from models
prepared by Emil Siegel, q.v.) . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 60:346, PCA 61:1242
1876 American Centennial Electrotype Plaque (attributed
to Samuel Black by Joseph Levine, but very late for
this artist, so is doubtful) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 61:260
M E D A L S
1858 Black (Samuel H.) Electrotyper New York City Storecard;
390½ Broadway [imitation of U.S. Liberty Head large
cent; SILVER & GOLD PLATING, MEDALS, CARDS & C;
copperplated] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 61
1858 Black (Samuel H.) Electrotyper & Gilder New York
City Storecard [imitation of U.S. Liberty Head
large cent; silverplated] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 62
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BMP 1:4656; PCA 56:551
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p. 110
1858 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
410 Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 63
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:872
1858 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
43 Lispenard Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 64
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:873
1860 Friend & Black New York City Storecard. .Miller NY 65
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:874
1860 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
142 Elm Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 67
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:875
1861 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard
142 Elm Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 68
T O K E N S
1859 Dougherty (Philip A.) Good For 6 Cents Token [attrib
to Black by Rulau, imitation of U.S. Flying Eagle
small cent). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau NY 210
1859 Vanderbilt (Isaac Stevens) Haplpy New Year Token
(imitation of U.S. Flying Eagle small cent] Rulau NY 932
1860 Black (Samuel N. sic) No Cent Storecard; [with incorrect
middle initial, and electrotyper misspelled] . . . . . . .
R E P L I C A S & R E I S S U E S
1848ca Taylor (Zachary) Victories in Mexico Galvano Medal
(designed by Peter Paul Dugan, engraved by Wright;
electrotypes probably made by Samuel Black) Julian MI-25
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . . 371:243
1859ca Clay and Webster Portraits Paperweight (perhaps
electrotypes made by Samuel H. Black of Wright's medals)
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAS 72:435A
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . .371:244
A R C H I V E S
DS Schenkman (David) Engravers, Diesinkers Databank.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.
C O L L E C T I O N S
C4 {1914} Comparette 243, 244, p 371.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 5.
E8A{1951} Kennedy Manuscript File.
E18 {1985} McSorley.
N33 {1998} Bowers, p 110, 136, 140, 337.
S58 {1999} Rulau. Standard Catalog U.S. Tokens, p 192; NY 61, NY 62, 248; NY 210 254, NY 932 278.
Applied the technology of electroplating–known in America in the silverware industry
since 1847–to bas-relief items, using medals for patterns of large items, or small bas-reliefs
as models for medals. He made electrotypes of numismatic specimens too scarce for some
collectors to ever own. These were sold among collectors and dealers and included in auction
sales but were always identified as electrotypes. These were looked on with favor when they
were identified as electrotypes, until unscrupulous persons began selling them without the
designation and naive collectors assumed these as originals.
Black issued at least six different storecards according to Dave Schenkman, all in 27mm size,
identical to the U.S. large cent, currently being phased out in America as the Mint began striking
small cents, Flying Eagle and Indian Head designs. These are listed below as struck in lead and
copper plated.
One 1860 store card by Black was issued with his middle initial as “N” instead of H and misspells
electrotyper as “ELECTROYPER” without second T. He moved often, of his six storecards, they
bear five different addresses in New York City.Samuel Black was active both before and after
the Civil War (with addresses in New York City), but Levine extends his activity to 1876 (doubtful).
Issued storecards (Adams 61-68) where he calls himself an electrotyper and, in 1859, a gilder
(both these activities employ the same electrochemical techniques and equipment).
Black was a shorttime partner in Friend and Black (se producers).
This is believed to be Henry Friend, active in New York City
since 1851 as a diesinker. The partnership lasted for only a year.
see atorecard Miller NY 65, below).
C A M P A I G N I T E M S
1864 McClellan (George) "Copperhead" Galvano Medal
(electrotype). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt GMcC 1864-96
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 42:284, PCA 63:117
G A L V A N O C A S T S
1859 National Medallion Declaration of Independence Plaque
(large size with medal images). . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . BMP 1:4324; CAL 33:1244; CAL 35:6;
PCA 50:430, PCA 55:242, PCA 57:433, PCA 60:341,
PCA 63:389, PCA 71:522
1859 Signing of the Declaration of Independence Plaque (by
Samuel Black with single medal by C.C. Wright after
Trumbull's painting, Signing) with text behind and
facsimilie signatures below). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . CAL 29:301, CAL 30:112, CAL 32:1472,
CAL 33:1245; J&J 7:460, J&J 21:2, J&J 26:388;
PCA 46:332, PCA 49:1284, PCA 51:1065, PCA 55:1626,
PCA 61:349, PCA 70:668, PCA 73:601, PCA 81:1822
Auction: Rago Art & Auction (12 May 2012) lot . . . . 139
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . . 376:272
Collection: Yale University Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
1865 University of Alabama Medal (an electrotype or galvano
medal which may have been made by Black from models
prepared by Emil Siegel, q.v.) . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 60:346, PCA 61:1242
1876 American Centennial Electrotype Plaque (attributed
to Samuel Black by Joseph Levine, but very late for
this artist, so is doubtful) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 61:260
M E D A L S
1858 Black (Samuel H.) Electrotyper New York City Storecard;
390½ Broadway [imitation of U.S. Liberty Head large
cent; SILVER & GOLD PLATING, MEDALS, CARDS & C;
copperplated] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 61
1858 Black (Samuel H.) Electrotyper & Gilder New York
City Storecard [imitation of U.S. Liberty Head
large cent; silverplated] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 62
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BMP 1:4656; PCA 56:551
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p. 110
1858 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
410 Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 63
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:872
1858 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
43 Lispenard Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 64
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:873
1860 Friend & Black New York City Storecard. .Miller NY 65
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:874
1860 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard;
142 Elm Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 67
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:875
1861 Black (Samuel H.) New York City Storecard
142 Elm Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miller NY 68
T O K E N S
1859 Dougherty (Philip A.) Good For 6 Cents Token [attrib
to Black by Rulau, imitation of U.S. Flying Eagle
small cent). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau NY 210
1859 Vanderbilt (Isaac Stevens) Haplpy New Year Token
(imitation of U.S. Flying Eagle small cent] Rulau NY 932
1860 Black (Samuel N. sic) No Cent Storecard; [with incorrect
middle initial, and electrotyper misspelled] . . . . . . .
R E P L I C A S & R E I S S U E S
1848ca Taylor (Zachary) Victories in Mexico Galvano Medal
(designed by Peter Paul Dugan, engraved by Wright;
electrotypes probably made by Samuel Black) Julian MI-25
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . . 371:243
1859ca Clay and Webster Portraits Paperweight (perhaps
electrotypes made by Samuel H. Black of Wright's medals)
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAS 72:435A
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . .371:244
A R C H I V E S
DS Schenkman (David) Engravers, Diesinkers Databank.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.
C O L L E C T I O N S
C4 {1914} Comparette 243, 244, p 371.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 5.
E8A{1951} Kennedy Manuscript File.
E18 {1985} McSorley.
N33 {1998} Bowers, p 110, 136, 140, 337.
S58 {1999} Rulau. Standard Catalog U.S. Tokens, p 192; NY 61, NY 62, 248; NY 210 254, NY 932 278.