U. S. Mint Medals Presented to Mint Director Robert M. Patterson ** 2012 ANA EXHIBIT **
1836 J-MT-21,AE 27mm FIRST STEAM COINAGE "The Very First" ex. Robert M. Patterson

Owner Comments:

Chief Coiner Franklin Peale returned to the USA in 1835 following his two years of studying the mints of Europe. Among the improvements he introduced to the U. S. Mint was the French-designed steam powered coining press. The debut of this press was scheduled for February 22, 1836, the anniversary of President Washington’s birth, and Second Engraver Christian Gobrecht prepared dies for a medal to commemorate this momentous occasion. A mechanical glitch, however, delayed the first steam striking until March 23 (careful inspection of this medal’s inscription reveals the date “MAR. 23.” punched over the earlier intended date). Copper strikes were made at that time using cent planchets imported from England. The specimen presented here is the first impression taken of these dies with the new steam press, a fact recorded with the inscription “The very first” at 12 o’clock on its edge. As Director Patterson had overseen these developments, it was only fitting that this first strike be presented to him. It survives accompanied by its original envelope similarly labeled and dated March 23.