Robert Scot
Encyclopedia
Robert Scot was the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
from its inception in 1793 until his death in 1823. He was succeeded by William Kneass
.
, Scotland
, while others give him as a native of England
. Scot was trained as a watchmaker in England, but learned engraving
shortly after.
in 1777, he engraved plates for subsistence money, bills of exchange, and office scales. In 1780, he was appointed the State Engraver of Virginia
, but he moved to Philadelphia in 1781. Scot was appointed Chief Engraver of the newly authorized United States Mint
on November 23, 1793 by Mint Director David Rittenhouse
. Though Scot's ability to work as a die sinker was limited, he worked to his fullest extent. Scot was responsible for designs of many of the first American coins, such as the Draped bust
, 1804 silver dollar
, Liberty cap half cent
, Bust Dollar
, Flowing Hair Dollar
, Quarter Eagle
, Half Eagle
, and various large cent
s.
on January 29, 1824.
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
from its inception in 1793 until his death in 1823. He was succeeded by William Kneass
William Kneass
William Kneass was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif which appeared on Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle gold pieces from 1834-1839. He also modified John Reich's Capped Bust design on the dime through...
.
Early life
Scot was born in 1744; some sources state that he was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, while others give him as a native of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Scot was trained as a watchmaker in England, but learned engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
shortly after.
Career
He was known for his engraving of flat works, notably banknotes. After moving to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1777, he engraved plates for subsistence money, bills of exchange, and office scales. In 1780, he was appointed the State Engraver of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, but he moved to Philadelphia in 1781. Scot was appointed Chief Engraver of the newly authorized United States Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
on November 23, 1793 by Mint Director David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse was a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman and public official...
. Though Scot's ability to work as a die sinker was limited, he worked to his fullest extent. Scot was responsible for designs of many of the first American coins, such as the Draped bust
Draped bust
"Draped Bust" was the name given to a design of United States coins. It appeared on much of the regular-issue copper and silver United States coinage from 1795-1808. The denominations that featured the Draped Bust design included the half cent.-Basic design:...
, 1804 silver dollar
1804 silver dollar
The 1804 Silver Dollar is a United States dollar coin considered to be one of the rarest and most famous coins in the world, due to its unique history. Divided into "Classes," 15 specimens are known. Eight comprise Class I, which were minted in 1834. Two Class I specimens trace their lineage to the...
, Liberty cap half cent
Half cent (United States coin)
First authorized on April 2, 1792 , the half cent coin was produced in the United States from 1793-1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper. It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter. Diameters are: 22 mm , 23.5 mm and 23 mm ., Coinage was discontinued by the Act...
, Bust Dollar
Bust Dollar
The Draped Bust dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1795 to 1803, and again throughout the 19th century. The design succeeded the Flowing Hair dollar, which began mintage in 1794 and was the first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint. The designer is unknown, though the...
, Flowing Hair Dollar
Flowing Hair Dollar
The Flowing Hair dollar was the first dollar coin issued by the United States federal government. The coin was minted in 1794 and 1795; its size and weight were based on the Spanish dollar, which was popular in trade throughout the Americas....
, Quarter Eagle
Quarter Eagle
The quarter eagle was a coin issued by the United States with a denomination of two hundred and fifty cents, or two dollars and fifty cents. It was given its name in the Coinage Act of 1792, as a derivation from the US ten-dollar eagle coin...
, Half Eagle
Half Eagle
The Half Eagle is a United States coin that was produced for circulation from 1795 to 1929 and in commemorative and bullion coins since the 1980s. Composed almost entirely of gold, it has a face value of five dollars...
, and various large cent
Large cent (United States coin)
The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of 1/100 of a United States dollar. Its diameter varied between 27mm and 29mm. The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it was officially replaced by the modern-size one-cent...
s.
Death
Scot died in office on November 1, 1823, and was succeeded as Chief Engraver by William KneassWilliam Kneass
William Kneass was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif which appeared on Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle gold pieces from 1834-1839. He also modified John Reich's Capped Bust design on the dime through...
on January 29, 1824.