William Kneass

William Kneass was born September 25, 1780, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[1][2] He served in the War of 1812 as a volunteer associate of the field engineers, and helped construct fortifications on the western front of Philadelphia.[2] He ran an engraving office in Philadelphia on Fourth above Chestnut Street, which was a popular meeting place for "leading wits and men of culture". Kneass also worked as an engraver of plates for bookwork.[2] Although he mainly worked in line engraving, he was also known for producing aquatints.[3] He also worked in two other engraving firms that bore his name: Kneass & Dellaker, and Young & Kneass & Co.

On January 29, 1824, Kneass was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. During his tenure as Chief Engraver, he oversaw production of gold coinage, and circulating coinage.[1][4]

In 1830, Kneass redesigned the quarter, and in 1834, redesigned the gold coinage. He also introduced a new Liberty head on the half dollar, a design that was modified several times over the next two years. In 1835, Mint director Samuel Moore wrote of him: "Mr. Kneass, our present engraver...is an acceptable, popular and very useful Officer, perhaps one of the most rapid in execution in the U. States. I do not know whether another could be found, whose celerity in his profession could have sufficed to furnish all the dies we have necessarily employed within the last five years."[5]

On August 27, 1835, Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side.[6] Once second engraver Christian Gobrecht was hired, he did most pattern and die work until Kneass died in office on August 27, 1840.[1][7] Kneass was succeeded by Gobrecht as Chief Engraver on December 21 of that year.

Kneass was married to Mary Turner Honeyman Kneass.[1] Two of their six[2] children, Samuel Honeyman Kneass (1806–1858)[8][4] and Strickland Kneass (1821–1884), became noted civil engineers in Philadelphia.[2]

Kneass was remembered as "a warm gentleman of the old-school, who had the rare quality of engaging and winning the esteem and affection of children and youth."[2]

• Taxay, Don (1983). The U.S. Mint and Coinage (reprint of 1966 ed.). New York, N.Y.: Sanford J. Durst Numismatic Publications. ISBN 0-915262-68-1.