Does The Name Moritz Fürst Look Familiar?

[WoodenJefferson]

Well, it should, because this early 19th Century US Mint engraver still has modern day medals that he originally designed, still available at our US Mint.

 

Within the historic walls of the US Mint, Mr. Furst kept some very nice company with the likes of :Charles E. Barber, William Barber (engraver), Frank Gasparro, Christian Gobrecht, Elizabeth Jones, William Kneass, James Barton Longacre, George T. Morgan, Gilroy Roberts, Trygve Rovelstad, Robert Scot and John R. Sinnock.

 

Perhaps this historic engraver is lost to the world because he did not design any coinage for circulation, but is still considered one of the more consistent medal designers of all time.

 

Arriving in Baltimore as a Jewish immigrant from Slovakia, Moritz finally reached his dreams, the American shore. He was born in Pezinok, near Bratislava, in March of 1782. While being employed as an apprentice at the Lombardy Mint in Napoleonic Milan, he mastered the art of die-sinking and was eventually enlisted in 1807 into the American consul at Leghorn, Italy.

 

Moritz originally came to the United States to work as an engraver and in 1808 he settled in Philadelphia. He soon set up business as a seal and steel engraver, and a die-sinker. In 1812 he was subsequently employed by the United States Mint in Philadelphia and soon received recognition as an early American medalist. Thirty-three of his patriotic commemoratives and portraits, including his best-known work honoring heroes of the War of 1812, are still issued by the U.S. Mint. He was also accredited with the official medal portraits of Presidents James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. Moritz also executed the first recorded American Jewish medal, to commemorate the death in 1816 of the patriot and religious leader Gershom Mendes Seixas.

 

One of the medals still issued by the US Mint

 

Price: $38.00 available from the US Mint

 

The obverse of the medal features a portrait of John Quincy Adams with the inscription "JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1825" centered along the border of the medal.

 

The reverse design is by John Reich. The medal features the "PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP" symbol with two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes with buttons, each button carrying the American eagle; the other wrist is bare; above the hands, crossed, the pipe of peace and the tomahawk.

 

 

Just one of Moritz Furst’s original design medals.

 

The above image represents the medal, the exact size. On one side is a bust of Captain Biddle, and the words "THE CONGRESS OF THE U. S. TO CAPT. JAMES BIDDLE FOR HIS GALLANTRY, GOOD CONDUCT, AND SERVICES."

 

On the other side is represented a naval action, with the Peak of Tristan d’Acunha in sight beyond the smoke. Around this are the words "CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH BRIG PENGUIN BY THE U. S. SHIP HORNET. Below, "OFF TRISTAN D’ACUNHA, MARCH XXIII. MDCCCXV."

 

Some History of Capt. James Biddle

 

James Biddle (1783-1848) was taken prisoner by the Tripolitans in 1803 and was held captive during the balance of the war with the Barbary pirates. He was liberated, given command of a gun boat and later recaptured by the British in 1812. After being exchanged as a prisoner, he was promoted to Master Commandant, and given command of the sloop-of-war Hornet. On March 23, 1815 off Tristan d'Acunha in the South Atlantic, the Hornet met and captured the British sloop-of-war Penguin in the last warship action in the War of 1812. The cannonade was furious and Biddle was severely wounded in the battle. After the war he served the U.S. in various commercial missions and negotiated the first treaty with China.

 

 

Captain James Biddle’s Proclimation

 

Thursday, 22 February 1816 Resolution requesting the President to present medals to Captain James Biddle, and the officers of the sloop of war Hornet. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby requested, to present to Captain James Biddle, of the sloop of war Hornet, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal, with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said sloop of war, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct and services of Captain Biddle, his officers and crew, in capturing the British sloop of war, Penguin, after a brave and skilful combat. 3 Stat. 341

 

Where in the heck is Slovakia?

Slovakia seems to be sandwiched between Poland, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Slovakia became independent on January 1, 1993 with the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia in the Velvet Divorce.

 

 

So, the next time you see or hear of this name, you can now associate it correctly.

 

Thanks for taking the time and effort, I could find no images of Mr. Furst, please feel free to comment or add to post, especially if you have any medals designed by this medalist.

 

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Misc. info:

 

Moritz Fuerst or authentic spelling, Moritz Fürst

 

Moritz died 1840 in Philadelphia

 

Conflicting information has him deceased in 1834 and born in Boesing, not Pezinok?

 

US Mint web site: ~Moritz Fürst (1782–1834) (die-sinker, sculptor, designer, and artist) was born at Boesing, Hungary~

 

This book has Moritz alive in 1836 so the 1834 death date on the US Mint site is invalid.

 

~Chris Neuzel, A Reckoning of Moritz Fürst's American Medals, The Medal in America Volume 2, (New York, NY: American Numismatic Society, 1997), pp. 19-118. Some discussion of the competition between Fürst and Gobrecht for the second engraver position in 1836.~

 

Pronunciation of the long Ü

 

The German long "ü" and short "ü" are two of the hardest sounds for the English speaker to master, as there are no direct equivalents in the English language. (ü ) similar to ew in pew; more like ue in French rue.

 

 

 

 

[cpm9ball]

This is what I found in my book on medallists:

 

You will note that it indicates that he was born "near Pressburg in Hungary". However, we should bear in mind that European borders changed rather frequently during that period.

 

The list of medals to his credit bear some interesting names. Wouldn't you just love to be able to acquire one of the original gold or silver medals?

 

Thanks for the info, Woody!

 

Chris

[Dcoin]

I love historical posts!

 

Thanks woody