My collector’s mind runs in cycles. Since I collect by type and tend to “fly over” many different topics. I will get interested in some things and then put them “on the shelf” for a while and then get them down again. I was in high school when I first got interested in the coins designed by William Kneass. He was the Chief U.S. Mint engraver from 1824 until 1840. Over that time he made or supervised the production of dies for all U.S. coins. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1836. After that Chistian Gobrecht did most of work and shared the available salary with Kneass, who died in office in 1840. While in high school, I concentrated on building first the eight piece gold type set and then expanded it to the 12 piece set. I was surprised to learn that the Classic Head gold coins were affordable (just barely) for me which expanding my set objectives to 14 pieces. Here are the Classic Head $2.50 and $5.00 gold coins that are attributed to Kneass. When you really get into this series, you learn that both Kneass and Gobrecht tinkered around with this design constantly. The basic design was the same, but minor details were always changing. The Classic Head $2.50 The Classic Head $5.00 William Kneass was not very inventive. His designs were taken from those by John Reich with minimal changes. Here is an example of John Reich’s original design for the half dollar. Here is the Kneass interpretation. Recently I decided to get out my William Kneass designed type coins from the 1820s and '30's. I decided to upgrade a couple of them and here they are. Half Dime (1829 to 1837 Type) Dime, Modified Design (1828 to 1837) Quarter Large Diameter (1815 to 1828) Quarter Reduced Diameter (1831 to 1838) This is were Kneass made his most significant design changes. Half Dollar (1809 to 1836)
There was a time I was very interested in John Reich, him being an indentured servant for a year. I read quite a lot about him, thought it was very interesting.
Do you know that he “signed” his dies with a notch on 13th star on his silver and gold coins? The notch disappeared when he left the mint in 1817.
I don't remember knowing it, that is for sure. Thanks for the info. Would I be wrong in saying Kneass was more ornate than Reich?
John, your 1832 dime is beautiful. So is the 1836 $5 - all your coins are nice, but those two are special!
The $5 is one tiny rub away from a great coin. It was struck as an MS-67, but has a tiny rub in the obverse field. PCGS called it MS-61. Stacks’, who auctioned it, said it looks better. The dime is quite nice. An underbidder was after me to sell it to him, but for a $50 profit, I passed.
Downgrading such a gem to MS61 for some rub or hairlines is a bit too harsh in my opinion. Luster and eye appeal are great, technically it may be an AU58, but I see an easy MS63/64. Anyway I am sure you’re happy with it no matter the grade
I bought the coin in the holder, so I am happy. I had paid a fortune for raw, and had it graded, that would been a different situation.
