Artist. Engraver. With James Herring, he published The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans between 1834 and 1839. The four volume set was to be "a monument of national gratitude . . . and indicate to the world the high destiny of the republic." Longacre was appointed Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint in 1844, a position he held until his death. He designed a number of coins, including the Indian Head penny. The coin honored the Chippewa tribe of northern Michigan, a fitting choice since Michigan copper deposits were used to mint the coins. The Indian wears the ceremonial headdress of the tribe, while the head was fashioned after Longacre's daughter Sarah. When Congress authorized the $20 Double Eagle in 1849 in response to the California Gold Rush, Longacre designed the coin. While a prospector's bag might contain an ounce of gold nuggets or gold dust, the minting of the coin was the government's guarantee that every Double Eagle contained an ounce of gold. Longacre's Double Eagle was minted from 1850 to 1907, though two 1849 prototypes are thought to exist. Coins still bore the work of Longacre as late as 1914, when the last of the dimes with the cereal wreath was replaced by Charles Barber's design. He was the husband of Eliza Stiles. He was also the father of writer, artist, and Methodist minister Andrew Longacre and insurance agent James Madison Longacre.
Artist. Engraver. With James Herring, he published The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans between 1834 and 1839. The four volume set was to be "a monument of national gratitude . . . and indicate to the world the high destiny of the republic." Longacre was appointed Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint in 1844, a position he held until his death. He designed a number of coins, including the Indian Head penny. The coin honored the Chippewa tribe of northern Michigan, a fitting choice since Michigan copper deposits were used to mint the coins. The Indian wears the ceremonial headdress of the tribe, while the head was fashioned after Longacre's daughter Sarah. When Congress authorized the $20 Double Eagle in 1849 in response to the California Gold Rush, Longacre designed the coin. While a prospector's bag might contain an ounce of gold nuggets or gold dust, the minting of the coin was the government's guarantee that every Double Eagle contained an ounce of gold. Longacre's Double Eagle was minted from 1850 to 1907, though two 1849 prototypes are thought to exist. Coins still bore the work of Longacre as late as 1914, when the last of the dimes with the cereal wreath was replaced by Charles Barber's design. He was the husband of Eliza Stiles. He was also the father of writer, artist, and Methodist minister Andrew Longacre and insurance agent James Madison Longacre.
Bio by: rjschatz
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