 In Longacre 's first years as chief engraver , no original designs were required for coins . Gobrecht had redesigned every denomination of U.S. coinage between 1835 and 1842 , and his successor had time to learn arts necessary for coin production that he had not needed as a maker of print engravings . These arts included coin design , making of punches for design elements , and die sinking . Longacre 's work in the private sector had involved cutting lines into a copper plate which was then used to print reproductions . Patterson wrote in August 1845 to Treasury Secretary Robert J. Walker that Longacre " is a gentleman of excellent character , highly regarded in this community , and has acquired some celebrity as an engraver of copper ; but he is not a Die @-@ Sinker . Indeed I do not know that he has ever made an attempt in this art . " By December of that year , the Mint director had written to Walker in praise of Longacre , stating that the engraver had " more taste and judgment in making devices for an improved coinage here than have been exhibited by any of his predecessors . He has shown too that he is quite competent to make the required model from his drawings . " Taxay attributed Patterson 's lavish praise of Longacre to continued attempts by Leonard to gain the post of chief engraver . 
