2017-03-08 Wed

On 17th May, Historic RittenhouseTown is going to honour retired U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti with the David Rittenhouse Award for his amazing work. It is a part of U.S. Mint of its 225th-anniversary celebrations along with the anniversary of David Rittenhouse being named the first U.S. Mint director.

David Rittenhouse was an astronomer, inventor, mathematician, surveyor, and the successor to Benjamin Franklin as president of the American Philosophical Society. The award is presented to those who have made notable historic contributions in the USA.

Mercanti served for 40 years in federal government, out of which he was a member of the U.S. Mint’s engraving staff for more than 30 years. He has produced the most number of coin and medal designs in U.S. Mint history.

His Heraldic Eagle reverse design with the American Eagle silver dollar in 1986 was his most notable work. He also designed for the Lady Liberty obverse on the American Eagle platinum coin series.

After retirement, he designed coins for Australia like the wedge-tailed eagle and reinterpreted designs by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for a medal. He was trained in Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Philadelphia College of Arts and the Fleisher Art Memorial School. His closest mentor was Frank Gasparro, who served as chief engraver of the United States from 23rd February 1965 to 16th January 1981.