I was hoping someone might be able to clarify something for me. I have several reference books on US notes and I find conflicting information on the designer / engraver of the portraits of the 1896 $2 & $5 dollar education notes. Paper Money of the US by Friedberg attributes the portraits to a Lorenzo J Hatch. I believe the rest of the reverse was designed by Thomas Morris. This is what I have always believed. However, I recently referenced the 100 greatest currency notes by Bowers and Sundman and they make no reference to a Lorenzo Hatch being involved in either note. Did they just fail to mention him or am I wrong in believing Lorenzo Hatch was the portrait designer / engraver of the portraits of Grant and Sheridan and Fulton and Morse. As a further note. Bowers and Sundman actually credit Schlecht, Smilie, and Burt as engraving the portraits on the plates for the $2 note. Can any of you clarify this for me. Was Lorenzo Hatch just the designer, did he engrave the portraits or none of the above? Lorenzo Hatch is a distant relative of mine and these notes are extra special to me because of his involvement. I hoped to see him credited in the "100 greatest notes". That didn't happen and I am wondering what information is correct. Thanks!
This is what I found on wikipedia: $1 "History instructing Youth" Front Face Designer: Will H. Low Engraver: Charles Schlecht Rear Back Designer: Thomas F. Morris George Washington Vignette Engraver: Alfred Sealey (1867) Martha Washington Vignette Engraver: Charles Burt (1878) $2 "Science presenting steam and electricity to Commerce and Manufacture" Central Vignette Designer: Edwin H. Blashfield Central Frame and Background Designer: Thomas F. Morris Vignette Engraver: G. (George) F. C. Smillie Border Engraver: Charles Schlecht Rear Back Designer: Thomas F. Morris Robert Fulton and Samuel Morris Vignette Engraver: Lorenzo J. Hatch $5 "Electricity as the Dominant Force in the World" Central Vignette Designer: Walter Shirlaw Border Designer: Thomas F. Morris Central Vignette Engraver: G. F. C. Smillie Border Engraver: Thomas F. Morris Rear Back Designer: Lorenzo J. Hatch and Thomas F. Morris Rear Back Engraver: G. F. C. Smillie Ulysses S. Grant and Phillip Sheridan Vignette Engraver: Lorenzo J. Hatch Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_Series
Yea, I have seen that information on Wikipedia. I always take what is on Wikipedia with a grain of salt as it is usually just various peoples input and not always sourced well. I guess I will assume this information is correct and that in the book, "100 greatest notes" they just didn't include all of the people associated with the production (which makes sense). There are a lot of notes in the book where they fail to mention any of the designers / engravers. For example the 1886 $5 note with Morgan dollars on the back also uses the vignette of Ulysses S Grant that was engraved by Lorenzo J Hatch. No mention of anyone involved in the design of that note either.
