PEALE, Franklin (1795-1870) Early American engraver, medalist,
machinist, embezzler.
Employed U.S. Mint, 1833-54, Chief Coiner 1840-54.
Full name: Benjamin Franklin Peale.
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 October 1795.
Franklin was son of Charles Willson Peale (q.v.), a famed Early American painter, museum founder; young
Franklin (he did not like the name Benjamin) assisted his father and brothers at Peale Museum, was manager until
1833, after which he worked for U.S. Mint.
Peale was hired by Director Samuel Moore, who sent Peale to Europe to learn mint technology from all mints there; he returns 1834 with knowledge of latest technology. He gives Moore a 272-page report and begins installing this technology at Philadelphia Mint. Obtains for the mint the new Contamin die-engraving pantograph
and Thonnilier coining press, 1836; he completely rebuilds press by 1840 as testimony of his mechanical acumen.
In further example of his ability, Peale creates three size dies from a bas-relief portrait pattern (by John Chapman, q.v.) which he reduces on the Contamin pantograph (creating device punches); he diesinks the lettering in the correct
size dies and strikes Polk's Indian Peace Medals of three sizes in record time, 1845-46. Thus proving the
usefulness of the Contamin pantograph (and his diesinking skill).
Later Peale became an embezzler and thief at the mint, running a lucrative business in manufacturing medals with mint bullion and machinery (in which he pocketed the proceeds, and possibly shared with selected mint officials). This continued for years, as one of the four families that controlled the mint and possibly received funds as well. Peale was protected by Mint Director Robert Meskell Patterson (and others).
After the publication of a number of pamphlets revealing the unethical practices existing at the mint nothing was done by either mint or Treasury officials. It was not until 2 December 1854 that Peale was ultimately fired by President Franklin Pierce.
Franklin may have been the Peale family of painters and scientists black sheep, but his portrait was painted by his famed brother, Rembrandt Peale (in close resemblance to his namesake, Benjamin Franklin). After leaving the Mint in 1854 he entered business in Philadelphia with lackluster success.
Peale died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 5 May 1870.
After Peale's death Robert Patterson continued his praise for Peale in a eulogy delivered before the American Philosophical Society (of which Patterson's father, also a mint director, was president and Peale a member). This was delivered 16 December 1870. Peale's tombstone is one of the most sumptuous in the city's Laurel Hill Cemetery.
In historical perspective, however, Peale is recognized for his mechanical genius but weak morality and cronyism with other mint officials in handling proceeds from medal sales he generated at the Mint.
C O I N S
1849 Double Eagle Liberty Head Pattern Coin (designed
by James B. Longacre with assistance of Peter F.
Cross and struck by Franklin Peale). . . . . Breen 7138
M E D A L S E R I E S
Indian Peace Medal Series:
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (large)
[obverse portrait by John Chapman, reverse by John
Reich, three size dies reduced and cut by Franklin
Peale on Contamin lathe he had installed at Mint in
1836]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loubat 58, Julian IP-24
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] 0000.999.33021
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . 112
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 345:68
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (medium size,
same). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian IP-25
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] 1883.24.18
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (small size,
same). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian IP-26
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] 1883.24.19
United States Presidential Medal Series:
1846 Polk (James K.) Presidential Medal [portrait by John
Gadsby Chapman, dies cut by Peale] . . . . . Julian PR-9
Auctions:. . . . . . PCA 48:477, PCA 64:258, PCA 65:366,
PCA 68:431
Directors of the Mint Series:
1851 Patterson (Robert Maskell) Medal (obv by Wright, rev
attributed to Franklin Peale by Julian). . . Julian MT-2
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 349:96
M E D A L S
1839 United States Mint Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt
Medal (obverse by Moritz Furst, reverse attributed
to Peale by Julian). . . . . . . . . . . . Julian MT-18
1848 United States Coast Survey George Bache Medal (attrib
To Peale). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian LS-4
Auctions:. . . . . CAL 29:1073, CAL 30:780, CAL 33:1023;
NAS 22:1720; PCA 45:1754, PCA 51:1053, PCA 59:1908
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 358:161
1849 Rajah of Subi Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . Julian PE-34
L I S T M E D A L S
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal [IP-24] . . List 111
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 43:FP11
Collection: Newark Museum New Jersey . . . . . . 20.1047
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Peale Family papers
3 microfilm reels , partial: P21, P23, plus reel P29 which contains Franklin Peale’s register of medal dies with
notes (frames 5-31).
C O L L E C T I O N S
C4 {1912} Comparette 68, p 345; 96 349; 161 358.
C14 {1996} Marqusee 112, p 22.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1835} Peale. Report to Samuel Moore. 272 pages.
Px {1846} Pattetson (Robert Meskell) Descripton of Bronze Medal of President Polk. American Philosophical Society Proceedings 36: (1846) p 298.
Px {1870} Patterson (Robert) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 11:85, pp 597-604. Reprinted as: An Obituary Notice of Franklin Peale, Read Before the American Philosopichal Society, December 16, 1870. Philadelphia: McCalla & Stavely Printers, 8 pages.
M2 {1878} Loubat 58, p 280-288 attributes the engraving of the Polk medal to Franklin Peale, without mention
of Chapman, who prepared model with Peale making the dies from Chapman pattern.
101 {1884-95} Sellers.
J60a{1947} Sellers, 2:382-83, 2:415.
Px {1955} Jensen (Oliver) The Peales. American Heritage 6:3 (April 1955) pp 40-51, 97-101. Franklin Peale's
thumbnail portrait, p 42.
D10 {1957} Groce and Wallace, p 492.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 391.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 706.
J56b{1996} Miller (Lillian B.) The Peale Family, p 25, 27, 39, 116-117, 189.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 3:2548-2549 (among more than 4 full pages for all Peale artists–
largest family group in America).
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N3 {1885} Evans p 110-11.
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 4:441.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 18.
P1 {1955} Saint John Nepomucene (Sister, S.N.D.) Franklin Peale's Visit to Europe in the Mint Service. Journal of
Chemical Education 32:3 (March 1955) p 156-159. Reprinted in The Numismatist 71:12 (December 1958)p 1473-
1479.
M37 {1977} Julian MT-18, p 191, PE-34 223, LS-4 322.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 92.
NC6 {1988} Breen, p 287, 393; 7138 562-563.
P2 {1994} Smith (Pete) Peale Helped Mechanize the Mint The Numismatist 107:8 (August 1994) p 1137- 1141.
N26 {1998} Bowers, p 136.
101{1998} Doty, 293-295.
P3 {1998} Stone (Victoria) Franklin Peale's Mint; More Than 20 Years of Rampant Opportunism Created the U.S.
Mint's First Major Scandal. Coin World (22 June 1998) 39:1993, pp 18-22. Hot Rarities, Coming Up. Coin World
(29 June 1998) 39:1994, p 16-18.
machinist, embezzler.
Employed U.S. Mint, 1833-54, Chief Coiner 1840-54.
Full name: Benjamin Franklin Peale.
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 October 1795.
Franklin was son of Charles Willson Peale (q.v.), a famed Early American painter, museum founder; young
Franklin (he did not like the name Benjamin) assisted his father and brothers at Peale Museum, was manager until
1833, after which he worked for U.S. Mint.
Peale was hired by Director Samuel Moore, who sent Peale to Europe to learn mint technology from all mints there; he returns 1834 with knowledge of latest technology. He gives Moore a 272-page report and begins installing this technology at Philadelphia Mint. Obtains for the mint the new Contamin die-engraving pantograph
and Thonnilier coining press, 1836; he completely rebuilds press by 1840 as testimony of his mechanical acumen.
In further example of his ability, Peale creates three size dies from a bas-relief portrait pattern (by John Chapman, q.v.) which he reduces on the Contamin pantograph (creating device punches); he diesinks the lettering in the correct
size dies and strikes Polk's Indian Peace Medals of three sizes in record time, 1845-46. Thus proving the
usefulness of the Contamin pantograph (and his diesinking skill).
Later Peale became an embezzler and thief at the mint, running a lucrative business in manufacturing medals with mint bullion and machinery (in which he pocketed the proceeds, and possibly shared with selected mint officials). This continued for years, as one of the four families that controlled the mint and possibly received funds as well. Peale was protected by Mint Director Robert Meskell Patterson (and others).
After the publication of a number of pamphlets revealing the unethical practices existing at the mint nothing was done by either mint or Treasury officials. It was not until 2 December 1854 that Peale was ultimately fired by President Franklin Pierce.
Franklin may have been the Peale family of painters and scientists black sheep, but his portrait was painted by his famed brother, Rembrandt Peale (in close resemblance to his namesake, Benjamin Franklin). After leaving the Mint in 1854 he entered business in Philadelphia with lackluster success.
Peale died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 5 May 1870.
After Peale's death Robert Patterson continued his praise for Peale in a eulogy delivered before the American Philosophical Society (of which Patterson's father, also a mint director, was president and Peale a member). This was delivered 16 December 1870. Peale's tombstone is one of the most sumptuous in the city's Laurel Hill Cemetery.
In historical perspective, however, Peale is recognized for his mechanical genius but weak morality and cronyism with other mint officials in handling proceeds from medal sales he generated at the Mint.
C O I N S
1849 Double Eagle Liberty Head Pattern Coin (designed
by James B. Longacre with assistance of Peter F.
Cross and struck by Franklin Peale). . . . . Breen 7138
M E D A L S E R I E S
Indian Peace Medal Series:
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (large)
[obverse portrait by John Chapman, reverse by John
Reich, three size dies reduced and cut by Franklin
Peale on Contamin lathe he had installed at Mint in
1836]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loubat 58, Julian IP-24
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] 0000.999.33021
Collection: Cornell Univ Johnson Art Gallery . . . . 112
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 345:68
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (medium size,
same). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian IP-25
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] 1883.24.18
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal (small size,
same). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian IP-26
Collection: American Numismatic Society [>1] 1883.24.19
United States Presidential Medal Series:
1846 Polk (James K.) Presidential Medal [portrait by John
Gadsby Chapman, dies cut by Peale] . . . . . Julian PR-9
Auctions:. . . . . . PCA 48:477, PCA 64:258, PCA 65:366,
PCA 68:431
Directors of the Mint Series:
1851 Patterson (Robert Maskell) Medal (obv by Wright, rev
attributed to Franklin Peale by Julian). . . Julian MT-2
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 349:96
M E D A L S
1839 United States Mint Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt
Medal (obverse by Moritz Furst, reverse attributed
to Peale by Julian). . . . . . . . . . . . Julian MT-18
1848 United States Coast Survey George Bache Medal (attrib
To Peale). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian LS-4
Auctions:. . . . . CAL 29:1073, CAL 30:780, CAL 33:1023;
NAS 22:1720; PCA 45:1754, PCA 51:1053, PCA 59:1908
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 358:161
1849 Rajah of Subi Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . Julian PE-34
L I S T M E D A L S
1846 Polk (James K.) Indian Peace Medal [IP-24] . . List 111
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 43:FP11
Collection: Newark Museum New Jersey . . . . . . 20.1047
A R C H I V E S
AAA Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Peale Family papers
3 microfilm reels , partial: P21, P23, plus reel P29 which contains Franklin Peale’s register of medal dies with
notes (frames 5-31).
C O L L E C T I O N S
C4 {1912} Comparette 68, p 345; 96 349; 161 358.
C14 {1996} Marqusee 112, p 22.
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1835} Peale. Report to Samuel Moore. 272 pages.
Px {1846} Pattetson (Robert Meskell) Descripton of Bronze Medal of President Polk. American Philosophical Society Proceedings 36: (1846) p 298.
Px {1870} Patterson (Robert) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 11:85, pp 597-604. Reprinted as: An Obituary Notice of Franklin Peale, Read Before the American Philosopichal Society, December 16, 1870. Philadelphia: McCalla & Stavely Printers, 8 pages.
M2 {1878} Loubat 58, p 280-288 attributes the engraving of the Polk medal to Franklin Peale, without mention
of Chapman, who prepared model with Peale making the dies from Chapman pattern.
101 {1884-95} Sellers.
J60a{1947} Sellers, 2:382-83, 2:415.
Px {1955} Jensen (Oliver) The Peales. American Heritage 6:3 (April 1955) pp 40-51, 97-101. Franklin Peale's
thumbnail portrait, p 42.
D10 {1957} Groce and Wallace, p 492.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 391.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 706.
J56b{1996} Miller (Lillian B.) The Peale Family, p 25, 27, 39, 116-117, 189.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 3:2548-2549 (among more than 4 full pages for all Peale artists–
largest family group in America).
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
N3 {1885} Evans p 110-11.
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 4:441.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 18.
P1 {1955} Saint John Nepomucene (Sister, S.N.D.) Franklin Peale's Visit to Europe in the Mint Service. Journal of
Chemical Education 32:3 (March 1955) p 156-159. Reprinted in The Numismatist 71:12 (December 1958)p 1473-
1479.
M37 {1977} Julian MT-18, p 191, PE-34 223, LS-4 322.
E17 {1983} Pessolano-Filos, p 92.
NC6 {1988} Breen, p 287, 393; 7138 562-563.
P2 {1994} Smith (Pete) Peale Helped Mechanize the Mint The Numismatist 107:8 (August 1994) p 1137- 1141.
N26 {1998} Bowers, p 136.
101{1998} Doty, 293-295.
P3 {1998} Stone (Victoria) Franklin Peale's Mint; More Than 20 Years of Rampant Opportunism Created the U.S.
Mint's First Major Scandal. Coin World (22 June 1998) 39:1993, pp 18-22. Hot Rarities, Coming Up. Coin World
(29 June 1998) 39:1994, p 16-18.