(1839) Bronzed Medal J-MT-18, Adam Eckfeldt

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS64BN 06-16-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronzed medal Julian MT-18 honors Adam Eckfeldt (1769-1852), the legendary chief coiner of the United States Mint who served in various capacities at the Philadelphia facility for over sixty years. Eckfeldt's father had helped build the original Mint machinery in 1792, and Adam himself began working at the Mint as a teenager, eventually rising to chief coiner in 1814, a position he held until his retirement in 1839. His tenure spanning from the Washington administration to the eve of the Civil War makes him the longest-serving official in Mint history. The obverse features a portrait of Eckfeldt whose career encompassed virtually the entire early history of American coinage. He personally operated the presses that struck many of the most famous early American coins, including the first regular-issue silver dollars and gold eagles. Eckfeldt was also instrumental in establishing the Mint Cabinet — the numismatic collection that would eventually become part of the Smithsonian Institution — by setting aside interesting and unusual coins from deposits brought to the Mint. His personal integrity was legendary; he was entrusted with millions of dollars in precious metals throughout his career without any hint of irregularity. The reverse carries the Julian MT-18 designation and commemorative inscriptions honoring Eckfeldt's extraordinary service. The bronzed finish — a dark, artificially patinated surface applied to the copper medal — was a common presentation technique that gave medals a more formal, antiquarian appearance compared to the bright finish of standard bronze strikings.

Rarity Notes

Bronzed finish medal, Julian MT-18. Honors the longest-serving U.S. Mint official. Produced in limited quantities.

Cross References

PCGS #528141; Julian MT-18; Adam Eckfeldt (1769-1852); Chief Coiner 1814-1839