The Franklin Peale Controversy and Coins of Contention

Longacre was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint in 1844. Although he was a successful engraver, he lacked any experience in the art of engraving on dies. The Director of the United States Mint, Robert Maskell Patterson (1787-1854), and the Chief Coiner, Franklin Peale (1795-1870), were critical of Longacre’s inexperience. They also perceived his presence as a threat to their private business which utilized Mint resources and machinery. These two factors would cause clashes at the Mint between these men. Subsequently, Longacre’s coin designs were under constant scrutiny as long as Patterson and Peale worked at the Mint.

Brass die impressed with a woman's profile encircled by thirteen stars.

James Barton Longacre, Dollar die (1849). Brass die. Photograph courtesy of Tom Mulvaney.

The United States Mint is responsible for producing the coinage of the United States. Originally part of the Department of the State, the Mint became an independent agency in 1799. Some of the functions of the Mint include: producing domestic, bullion, and foreign coins; manufacturing and selling commemorative medals; disbursing gold and silver for authorized purposes; and distributing coins to Federal Reserve Banks.

Coins are created by pressing a design into the metal with a stamp called a die. This is a beautiful example of a coin die that would be struck to create the dollar coin from 1849. Notice the thirteen stars that encircle the head of Liberty representing the original thirteen colonies.

Die trial on card. Left circle contains profile of woman surrounded by thirteen stars. Right circle contains wreath and text.

James Barton Longacre, One dollar 1849 (Philadelphia, 1849). Die trial on card.

One of the first coins that Longacre designed as Chief Engraver at the Mint is this one-dollar coin. Congress commissioned it and the twenty-dollar gold piece in 1849. The push for new gold coins was sparked by the California Gold Rush. The resulting gold dollar and twenty-dollar gold piece would be the smallest and largest regular-issue coins to emerge designed by Longacre. The reverse design is simple due to the size of the coin, which was smaller than today’s dime. This coin was difficult to grasp and easy to lose, which was problematic since a dollar was almost a day’s wage, making this an unpopular coin.

Pencil drawing of a woman's profile wearing a crown and necklace.

James Barton Longacre, Study drawing of obverse of twenty-dollar gold piece (ca. 1849). Pencil drawing.

The second gold coin authorized by Congress in 1849 was a twenty-dollar gold piece, also called the double eagle. This drawing represents the obverse of the coin, which is a profile bust of Liberty, depicted as a woman wearing a crown. Notice the lovely feature in which the hair appears so delicate. Although more detailed, this is a very similar design to the gold dollar Liberty.

White metal disc impressed with a woman's profile wearing a crown that reads,

James Barton Longacre, Obverse die trial of the head of Liberty (1850 or 1859). Die trial in white metal. Photograph courtesy of Tom Mulvaney.

A die trial is an impression from a die in a different metal to test a design. In this die trial for the obverse of the double eagle, you will notice stars surrounding the bust and the word “Liberty” upon the crown have been added. This design is similar to one created previously by Longacre’s predecessor, Christian Gobrecht (1785-1844), that was used on the half cent and large cent coins he created. It is a good example of how some designs are modified and then reused on new coins.

Pencil drawing of a bald eagle holding an olive branch and arrows with a shield, American flags, and thirteen stars.

James Barton Longacre, Coin design study for Double Eagle Reverse (Philadelphia, ca. 1849-1850). Pencil drawing.

Longacre’s drawing of the reverse of the double eagle is intricate and magnificent. There are many aspects that represent the United States. It replicates the imagery of the Great Seal of the United States with an eagle holding an olive branch in one foot and arrows in the other. Also, notice the thirteen stars above the eagle’s head, and the shield in front.

White metal disc impressed with an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows with rays and stars above its head.

James Barton Longacre, Reverse die trial of Heraldic Eagle (ca. 1849-1850). Die trial in white metal. Photograph courtesy of Tom Mulvaney.

The actual die trial of the heraldic eagle for the twenty-dollar gold piece had to be simplified from the pencil sketch. For practical reasons, the intricacy of the design would not translate onto a metal coin. You may notice flags from the drawing are not present in this die trial, among other differences. This coin also represents something more personal for Longacre. As retribution to his opposing Chief Coiner Peale’s efforts to have the engraving work done outside the Mint, he worked on it alone and to the detriment of his health.

Pencil drawing of circles with a roman numeral three, a large C surrounded by stars, and a six-pointed star in a shield.

James Barton Longacre, Coin design for obverse and reverse of three-cent piece (ca. 1850-1851). Pencil drawing.

In 1851, Congress authorized a silver three-cent piece after prepaid postage dropped from five cents to three cents. Longacre submitted this design to Patterson, only to have Peale attempt to change Patterson’s mind in favor of his own design. However, upon review by Thomas Corwin, the Treasury Secretary, the decision was made to use the coin designed by Longacre. One notable feature is the “C” for cent is quite fancy and embellished with designs within itself. Also, the use of Roman numerals to represent the denomination is a unique choice.

Die trial on card of circles containing a six-pointed star and a roman numeral three with a large C surrounded by stars.

James Barton Longacre, Three-cent die trial (Philadelphia, ca. 1850-1851). Die trial on card.

A die trial for the three-cent piece was impressed on a piece of paper. It is intriguing to consider the coin denominations that we no long use, such as this one, which was minted from 1851-1873. Though one of the smallest coins ever produced in the United States, it contained metal worth less than its face value of three cents. The overall design was simple out of necessity, due to its tiny size.