SARASOTA, Fla. (July 31,
2014) — Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) will display three medals
and an 1803 Eagle certified by NGC as well as several Presidentially signed
appointments from the Eckfeldt Family Archives at the ANA World’s Fair of
Money in Chicago, August 5-9, 2014.
The Eckfeldts are well
known to numismatists for their extensive history of employment with the US Mint
during its first 100 years. The three large, gold US Mint medals and an 1803
Eaglgraded NGC MS 61 are labeled Eckfeldt Family Archives in recognition
of their historic provenance. NGC will display three medals, an 1803
dollar, and several Presidentially signed appointments from the Eckfeldt Family
Archives at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, August 5-9, 2014.
The name Eckfeldt is
synonymous with the first century of the United States Mint. Indeed, Eckfeldts were
employed at the Philadelphia Mint as late as 1930. Blacksmith John JacobEckfeldt
(1733-1818),a native of Nuremberg in Bavaria, immigrated to Philadelphia in the
1760s and operated a machine shop. There he furnished dies to Robert
Morris for the Nova Constellation coppers in 1783 and also provided the US
Mint with its first screw press. His son [John] Adam Eckfeldt (1769-1852) is
believed to have created the dies for the first federal half cents of
1793, and he gained regular employment at the Philadelphia Mint two years
later as an assistant to Coiner Henry Voigt. Adam Eckfeldt then succeeded
Voight upon the latter’s death in 1814 and held that office until his
retirement in 1839. He remained a familiar presence at the mint until his
own death 13 years later, volunteering his immense expertise.
The first of three gold
medals certified by NGC is an 1839-dated issue honoring Adam Eckfeldtupon his
retirement (Julian MT-18a). The splendid profile bust of Mr. Eckfeldt was
engraved by Moritz Furst, and researcher R. W. Julian attributed the
inscription-only reverse to Chief Coiner Franklin Peale. The extremely
rare gold impression measures 51mm and has been graded by NGC as PF 62 Cameo.
Among the successive
generations of Eckfeldt Family members employed by the Mint was Adam’s grandson
Jacob Bausch Eckfeldt (1846-1938). He served the Philadelphia Mint from 1865 to
1930, and his 60th anniversary in 1925 was recognized with a handsome,
51mm gold medal certified by NGC as PF 66. It features an eagle in profile
that George T. Morgan first used on the reverse of the US Assay Commission
medal in 1906. This is most appropriate, as Eckfeldt had served as the
Mint’s assayer since 1881. So esteemed was Jacob B. Eckfeldt that yet
another gold medal was prepared for him upon his retirement in 1930.
Graded PF 67 by NGC, this medal is rectangular with an arched top and
measures 57mm x 42mm. It features a handsome profile bust of J. B. Eckfeldt
that was sculpted by US Mint Sculptor/Engraver Adam Pietz in 1928. Its
reverse includes an inscription of tribute from Eckfeldt’s fellow
employees. Like the 1925 medal, it does not appear within the US Mint’s own
catalog and may be unique.
To view the selections from the Eckfeldt Family
Archives, visit NGC booth #402 at the ANA World’s Fair of Money, August 5-9,
2014.
About Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) NGC,
the world’s largest and most respected third-party coin grading service, was
founded in 1987. From the beginning, NGC has committed itself to developing an impartial,
trusted standard of consistent and accurate grading. To uphold this commitment,
NGC’s full-time grading professionals are no longer active in the commercial coin
marketplace, and are prohibited from buying or selling coins to ensure
impartiality. As NGC has grown to become the leader in third-party grading
services, we have maintained a steadfast and uncompromising commitment to this
standard. Learn more at NGCcoin.com.