Dr. David K. Tuttle, of the Carson City Mint, appointed Melter and Refiner January 10, 1888.
Nathaniel B. Boyd, Assistant Melter and Refiner, was born in Philadelphia, January, 1832. Twenty years later, he was graduated with honors at Burlington College. After leaving College he studied law, and was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1854. In 1869 he accepted an appointment in the National Mint, tendered him by Director Pollock. In 1873 he was appointed Assistant Melter and Refiner, a position which he still occupies (1885).
THE MINT ENGRAVERS.
(Extract from Patterson Du Bois’ Biographical Sketch of “Our Mint Engravers.”)
Whatever may be said concerning the peculiar responsibilities of the officers of the Mint, who are occupied with the various operations of turning bullion into coin, it must be conceded that none of them occupies a position so dubious and, in some ways, so unenviable as the Engraver. In the general transactions of the Mint, he is the most retired—the most obscure—of its officers; yet his card is in every one’s pocket.
As to the types of coinage, the standards are as numerous as the eyes that water for them, and there is no piece but may be said to be outside of somebody’s tolerance. No other artist undergoes such an ordeal, for those who do not admire this painting or that statue are not compelled to hug and hoard it, much less to toil for its possession. The engraver who can, from his retired window, see the critical millions clutching for his little relievos, is in some sort a hero ex-officio, and it has been well suggested that we look briefly upon the uneventful lives of this worthy line of officers.
I. Robert Scot received his appointment as the first Engraver of the Mint, November 23, 1793. Information is wanting as to his nativity, but at the time of his appointment he seems to have been turning the down-hill of life. He is remembered as rather under size, and as an honorable and agreeable gentleman.
According to Loubat, Joseph Wright was “appointed first a draughtsman and die-sinker to the United States Mint, and made the dies of a medal, the bust on the obverse of which was considered to be the best medallic profile likeness of Washington.[21] He also made the medal voted by Congress to Major Lee.” Wright died in 1793.
II. William Kneass, second of the line, was born in Lancaster, Pa., September, 1781, and was appointed Engraver January 29, 1824. Mr. Kneass had been chiefly a plate engraver for book-work. There were some changes in the coinage during his term, notably in 1834 and 1838, for gold, and 1836, 1837, 1838, and 1840, for silver. But some of this work was done by Gobrecht as assistant. Kneass appears upon a pattern half dollar of 1838; but the silver dollar of 1836, as well as a pattern half of 1838, were the work of his assistant. Prior to his appointment he had an engraving office on Fourth above Chestnut street, Philadelphia, which was a well-known rendezvous for the leading wits and men of culture, for which Philadelphia was then eminent.
Mr. Kneass died in office, August 27, 1840. A good engraving of him hangs in the Assayer’s Office, inscribed “to his friend Adam Eckfeldt, Chief Coiner,”—who had been chiefly instrumental in securing his appointment.