AUGSBURGER UNCOVERS A NEW IMAGE OF CHRISTIAN GOBRECHT

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V15 2012 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 15, Number 19, May 6, 2012, Article 18

The April 2012 issue of The E-Gobrecht, the electronic newsletter of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club has an article by Len Augsburger where he announces his discovery of two archival items relating to U.S. Mint engraver Christian Gobrecht. With permission, here's an excerpt. -Editor

A recent research trip to Philadelphia uncovered a new image of Christian Gobrecht, drawn c. 1900 and based on a miniature of Gobrecht which has appeared elsewhere (for example, in Gobrecht Dollars Illustrated by the Collection of Julius Korein, M.D., published by Heritage in 2009). A caption reads "From a miniature in the possession of his grandson, Chas. Gobrecht Darrach." Darrach was a grandson of Gobrecht who donated certain Gobrecht papers to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1906.

Also found was a trade card of Christian Gobrecht, with the inscription 'C. Gobrecht / Die Sinker / and / Seal Engraver / 220 / Walnut St. / Philadelphia." Gobrecht, in his pre-Mint days, engraved dies used for embossing cards and book covers. This, his personal calling card, is a skillful tribute to the engraver. Illustrated here is the familiar eagle with talons bearing arrows and leaves, all surrounded by a glory (evocative of Gobrecht's 1836 pattern gold dollar and later essayed on the 1853 arrows & rays coinage), while profiles of Lafayette and Washington grace the lower portion of the card.

Gobrecht no doubt impressed many examples of this trade card, presumably one is out there waiting for a knowledgeable collector to find it!

Great sleuthing! There are many great items out there waiting to be found, but it takes someone with the initiative to actually go looking. Good work, Len! -Editor

To more information on the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, see: www.lsccweb.org

Wayne Homren, Editor