The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 37, August 28, 2005, Article 3

LONGACRE ESTATE CORRESPONDENCE OFFERED

Pat Parkinson writes: "I am a banking history collector, NBS
member, and faithful reader of the E-Sylum. I saw this item
offered at auction and thought it might be of considerable
interest to you or some other NBS members."

 >From the lot description: "Archive of letters pertaining to
James Barton Longacre (1794-1869), an Engraver from
Pennsylvania."

"From 1844 till his death he was engraver to the United States
Mint, and designed many of the new coins that were struck
during this time, including the Indian head cent, the two cent,
and 3 cent pieces, the first five cent piece, as well as the
double-eagle, the three dollar piece, and the gold dollar.
He was afterward employed by the Chilean government to
remodel the entire coinage of that country, and had completed
the work shortly before his death

The following letters were written by Orleans and Andrew
Longacre, his sons, regarding the auctions of their fathers
modes, coins and medals, prints and books, discussing items
which they wish to purchase and which should be kept in the
family, all 1870s most multipaged."

Here's one excerpt from the letters:
"The coin catalogues have come to hand....There are some
things which I should have preferred to have had reserved
and sold among ourselves, but as that is too late now. They
seem to be fathers studies, and some are of great interest to
us...Of 577 & 591 I want to know if either is fathers own
head. He had, I think a wax model of himself. If it is in the
collection it ought to be withdrawn of course...The plaster
casts are generally too frail to be valuable. But those of the
Jackson Medal - ought to be retained...None of the Jackson
heads it being an unfinished work of fathers ought to be sold
out of the family... "

To view the auction lot and description: Auction

[The auction closes September 15th. We typically do not
publish individual wanted or for-sale items, but this seems
appropriate because of the research value of the material.
Gentlemen, start your bidding paddles!

Can anyone tell us more about the Longacre connection
to the Chilean coinage? -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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