Longacre, James Barton Público Deposited
Born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Married with two daughters.
Employed as an engraver for Murray, Draper, Fairman & Company. They had previously employed Christian Gobrecht. His finest work was The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans. On September 16, 1844, Longacre became chief engraver of the United States Mint succeeding Gobrecht. He continued to serve until his death in Philadelphia.
He had a small collection sold at auction January 21, 1870, by M. Thomas & Sons. It included some patterns from his era at the mint. A Cyrus Field medal in aluminum realized $28. An 1867 5 cent piece in aluminum realized $5; an 1868 dime in aluminum realized $10; and an 1868 half dime in aluminum realized $6.50.
Longacre designed several series of circulating coinage:
Flying Eagle Cent 1856-1858
Indian Head Cent 1859-1909
Two Cent Piece of 1864-1873
Silver Three Cent Piece of 1851-1873
Nickel Three Cent Piece of 1865-1889
Seated Half Dime of 1860-1873
Shield Nickel of 1866-1883
Seated Dime of 1860-1891
Barber Dime reverse 1892-1916
Liberty Head gold dollar 1849-1854
Indian Head gold dollar 1854-1889
Three Dollar gold 1854-1889
Liberty Head double eagle 1849-1907
Longacre engraved dies for several mint medals:
1860 Assay Commission Medal (Julian AC-1)
1861 Assay Commission Medal (Julian AC-2)
1862 Assay Commission Medal (Julian AC-3)
Duncan Ingraham reverse (Julian NA-26)
Washington College (Julian SC-62)
Washington and Lee University (Julian SC-64)
bio: ApCAB; DAB; Drake; Fielding; Hessler; NCAB 25; NYHSD; P-F; Stauffer; WWWA-H; CW/NM 3/10/76 profile: AJN 18 Jul 1883 page 14
- 1794-08-11
- Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- 1869-01-01