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William Kneass

Biography

Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Married Mary Turner Honeyman June 23, 1804. They had six children. His second marriage was to Jane Kramer in about 1827. He established an engraving business in 1804. He was adept at line engraving and stipple engraving. During the War of 1812 he served as Volunteer Associate of the Field Engineers. He was a partner with James H. Young in Kneass, Young & Co., Engravers in Philadelphia ca. 1817 to 1820. Between 1820 and 1824 he was a partner with George Delleker.

Appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint January 29, 1824. Kneass owed his appointment to his friendship with Adam Eckfeldt. At the direction of Eckfeldt, Kneass produced the dies for the 1804 dollars struck in 1834. He suffered a stroke on August 28, 1835. After the stroke Kneass was unable to perform his duties and engraving was done by the assistant, Christian Gobrecht. He died in office in Philadelphia.

Kneass engraved the dies for mint medals:

George Washington obverse (Julian PR-27)

Columbia College (Julian SC-18)

He redesigned the dies for coinage:

Half Dime 1829-1837

Quarter Eagle 1834-1839

Half Eagle 1834-1838

bio:DAB; Fielding; NCAB 25; NYHSD; P-F; Stauffer; WWWA-H profile: AJN 18 Jul 1883 page 13

Source credit: Pete Smith, American Numismatic Biographies

 

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