JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN AND THE MINT COLLECTION
The magnificent numismatic collection today housed in the Smithsonian Institution is actually a fusion of several collections, the most important of which was housed at the Philadelphia Mint until 1923. Although the Mint collection of coins and medals was formally created in 1838, the true foundation dates back to 1792, when the infant Mint was producing its first patterns and coins.
Conventional wisdom also says that Adam Eckfeldt started the collection and was responsible for laying away the specimens of coins over the years, but this is unlikely. Eckfeldt was only 22 years old at the beginning of 1792 and was not a regular employee of the institution until January 1796.
Mint Director David Rittenhouse, who served 1792–1795, was not only the most eminent American scientist of his era, but also had a strong sense of history and the future place of the Mint. Although not rich, Rittenhouse was well off and almost certainly responsible for the laying away of the different coins and patterns struck during his tenure of office.
The director’s health failed perceptibly during the spring of 1795, forcing his resignation in June. It seems unlikely that Henry William DeSaussure, in office for less than four months, would have undertaken this same role, nor, does it appear, that Elias Boudinot, director from October 1795 to June 1805, systematically saved the issues struck under his direction.
The only other major officer at this point (late 1795) was Chief Coiner Henry Voight,
