COINERS
Henry Voigt
1st Chief Coiner
1793 - 1814
1st Chief Coiner
1793 - 1814
Henry Voigt (1738 - 1814), was born in Pennsylvania in 1738 and in his late teens, moved to Saxony Germany sometime during the “Seven Years” war (1756 - 1763), as this was his family’s homeland. Once the war was over, he took a position in the Royal Mint of Saxony. Here is where he learned how to use every engine belonging to a Mint and how to make every part himself and even to make improvements to that machinery. This made him an ideal candidate for employment later in the first U.S. Mint. Upon his return to America, Voigt developed skills as a clockmaker while working in Philadelphia and became an assistant to David Rittenhouse, himself a clock and watchmaker of some renown. In 1771, Voigt assisted Rittenhouse with the construction of an orrery. When the revolutionary war broke out, he helped manufacture gears, guns and gunlocks for the Continental Army. By 1780, he had moved to Reading, Pa. and carried on a wire manufactory. After moving back to Philadelphia a few years later, he was once again a clockmaker, along with his brother Sebastian, located at 149 No. Second Street between Vine and Race streets.
Voigt formed a partnership with John Fitch to develop the first practical application of a steam engine to power a boat. The first attempt was demonstrated in 1787 and a vastly improved version was actually put in to regular service in 1790. While the steamship side of this affiliation did not last, both worked together again in early 1792, to manufacture and improve steam engines. Both men would eventually apply for employment at the newly proposed Mint.
Most likely due to his earlier association with David Rittenhouse, Voigt gained position with the new Mint on June 1st, 1792,, as acting Chief Coiner and Superintendent, the number two man in charge. In this position, he oversaw the construction of the new Mint buildings and installation of all of the Mint equipment. Voigt received his permanent commission as Chief Coiner on January 29th, 1793, signed by President Washington. He would remain in this position until his death on February 2nd, 1814.
Voigt formed a partnership with John Fitch to develop the first practical application of a steam engine to power a boat. The first attempt was demonstrated in 1787 and a vastly improved version was actually put in to regular service in 1790. While the steamship side of this affiliation did not last, both worked together again in early 1792, to manufacture and improve steam engines. Both men would eventually apply for employment at the newly proposed Mint.
Most likely due to his earlier association with David Rittenhouse, Voigt gained position with the new Mint on June 1st, 1792,, as acting Chief Coiner and Superintendent, the number two man in charge. In this position, he oversaw the construction of the new Mint buildings and installation of all of the Mint equipment. Voigt received his permanent commission as Chief Coiner on January 29th, 1793, signed by President Washington. He would remain in this position until his death on February 2nd, 1814.
Adam Eckfeldt
2nd Chief Coiner
1814 - 1839
Adam Eckfeldt (1769 - 1852) His father (John Jacob Eckfeldt) was married to his mother (Marie Magdalena), in Nuremburg Bavaria in 1764, before moving to America. Adam was born on June 15th, 1769, in Philadelphia. Adam followed his father into the blacksmith trade and along with the elder Eckfeldt, did miscellaneous smith work at the Mint in the first year of its existence. He was President of the Good Will Fire Company in Philadelphia and is credited with at least one improvement in early fire engines.
Adam worked off and on for the Mint until mid 1795, when he became a somewhat permanent employee. Due to his blacksmith background and his machinist abilities, he worked on various projects including machine work on the presses and adjusting, forging and turning die stock. Some researchers have made the unsubstantiated claims that Eckfeldt engraved several dies in 1793. However, there is no Mint documentation to support this. Instead, his job during 1795, entailed forging, heating and annealing the dies engraved by others.
He was officially hired under articles of agreement that were signed on January, 1st, 1796, making him assistant to the Chief Coiner Henry Voigt. He finally became an actual officer of the Mint on March 19th, 1798, once Congress provided for an assistant coiner and die forger in an appropriation. Eckfeldt worked under Voigt as assistant coiner until Voigt passed away in 1814 and was then appointed as Chief Coiner in his place on February 15th, 1814, by President James Madison, as he had been doing most of the work of the Chief Coiner by this time. When Chief Engraver Robert Scot passed away in November of 1823, William Kneass was hired to replace Scot on the strength of Eckfeldt’s recommendation; such was the respect for his opinion. Early on, he kept back first strike "master coins” and rescued other pieces when they were turned in for re-coining. This collection was turned over to the Mint the year before he retired and became the beginning of the Mint Collection, now in the National Numismatic Collection held by the Smithsonian Institution.
Adam began the over 130 year association the Eckfeldt family had with the United States Mint. His son (Jacob Reese Eckfeldt) and grandson (Jacob Bausch Eckfeldt) both worked for the Mint as Assayers. After working for the Mint for over 45 years, Eckfeldt retired in 1839. The other officers of the Mint provided for a subscription in the amount of $180, as a testimonial of their respect, to have a gold medal struck and given to Adam on his retirement. Bronze copies were struck for the other officers and two were struck in silver and were given to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury.
Eckfeldt continued his interest with the Mint until he passed away on February 5th, 1852. To him must be given much credit for the many wonderful coins in all of our collections today, especially those from 1815, until the end of the Bust Series in 1838.
Adam worked off and on for the Mint until mid 1795, when he became a somewhat permanent employee. Due to his blacksmith background and his machinist abilities, he worked on various projects including machine work on the presses and adjusting, forging and turning die stock. Some researchers have made the unsubstantiated claims that Eckfeldt engraved several dies in 1793. However, there is no Mint documentation to support this. Instead, his job during 1795, entailed forging, heating and annealing the dies engraved by others.
He was officially hired under articles of agreement that were signed on January, 1st, 1796, making him assistant to the Chief Coiner Henry Voigt. He finally became an actual officer of the Mint on March 19th, 1798, once Congress provided for an assistant coiner and die forger in an appropriation. Eckfeldt worked under Voigt as assistant coiner until Voigt passed away in 1814 and was then appointed as Chief Coiner in his place on February 15th, 1814, by President James Madison, as he had been doing most of the work of the Chief Coiner by this time. When Chief Engraver Robert Scot passed away in November of 1823, William Kneass was hired to replace Scot on the strength of Eckfeldt’s recommendation; such was the respect for his opinion. Early on, he kept back first strike "master coins” and rescued other pieces when they were turned in for re-coining. This collection was turned over to the Mint the year before he retired and became the beginning of the Mint Collection, now in the National Numismatic Collection held by the Smithsonian Institution.
Adam began the over 130 year association the Eckfeldt family had with the United States Mint. His son (Jacob Reese Eckfeldt) and grandson (Jacob Bausch Eckfeldt) both worked for the Mint as Assayers. After working for the Mint for over 45 years, Eckfeldt retired in 1839. The other officers of the Mint provided for a subscription in the amount of $180, as a testimonial of their respect, to have a gold medal struck and given to Adam on his retirement. Bronze copies were struck for the other officers and two were struck in silver and were given to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury.
Eckfeldt continued his interest with the Mint until he passed away on February 5th, 1852. To him must be given much credit for the many wonderful coins in all of our collections today, especially those from 1815, until the end of the Bust Series in 1838.