George Frederick Cumming Smillie (November 22, 1854 – January 21, 1924) also known as G.F.C. Smillie or Fred Smillie was an engraver for the United States Treasury. Smillie engraved portraits for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) from 1894 to 1924.
George Frederick Cumming Smillie | |
|---|---|
 c. 1924 | |
| Born | November 22, 1854 New York City, US |
| Died | January 21, 1924 (aged 69) Washington, D.C., US |
| Other names | Fred |
| Occupation | Engraver |
| Years active | 1871–1922 |
| Known for | Engraving portraits on US currency |
| Notable work | Banknote portraits of US presidents |
| Style | steel-plate engraving |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life
editFred Smillie was born in November 22, 1854, in New York City.[1] His parents were David Smillie jr. and Margaret Smillie. Several member of the Smillie family were associated with the design of currency. He showed an aptitude for art and engraving as a boy. When Fred Smillie was 17 years old he learned engraving by working with his uncle James David Smillie.[2]
Career
edit
In 1871, he worked for his uncle James David Smillie at the American Banknote Company. In his career he worked for several other banknote companies. In 1894 he began working as an engraver for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).[1] In 1895 his salary at the BEP was $6,000 (equivalent to $219,744 in 2023) per year.[3] In 1918 he was made the superintendent of portrait engraving at the BEP. His portraits and vignettes appeared on stamps, currencies and securities.[1] He was a steel-plate engraver and was known for his engravings of presidential portraits.[4]
Smillie engraved the portrait of Chief Tatoka-Inyanka (Running Antelope) of the Hunkpapa Sioux which is found on the large size 1899 United States five-dollar Silver Certificate.[5] During the photoshoot Running Antelope wore his three-feathered headdress but when engraving for the note, his headdress did not fit in the space of the 1899 five-dollar Silver Certificate. Smillie found an image of a feathered-War bonnet that was likely Pawnee and he used it in the engraving. Because of the incorrect headdress, the engraved portrait was controversial.[6][7]
He also engraved the portraits of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant which are found on the obverse of the 1899 series Black Eagle Silver Certificate.[8] G.F.C. Smillie also did the engraving for the portrait of Woodrow Wilson on the United States one-hundred-thousand-dollar bill.[9]
His engravings can be seen on the 1896 five-dollar bill, the 1899 five-dollar bill (Chief), the 1899 two-dollar bill, the 1923 one-dollar bill and other banknotes and checks. He also completed engravings likeThe Reapers which were used in the background of banknotes. His engraving of George Washington was used on several different banknotes.[2] Smillie retired from the BEP on March 31, 1922.[10]
Gallery
edit-
1896 five dollar bill -
1899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate -
1928 US one-dollar bill -
1934 US $100,000 bill -
The reapers by G.F.C. Smillie -
George Washington engraving by G.F.C. Smillie based on a painting by Gilbert Stuart -
1897 Bald eagle signed by G.F.C. Smillie -
Woodrow Wilson engraving
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Fielding, Mantle (1926). Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Subscribers. p. 335. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b Schöne, Michael H. (19 December 2023). "G. F. C. Smillie - Der beste Graveur seiner Zeit". geldscheine-online (in German). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Official Register of the United States. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1895. p. 85. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ The Outlook. New York: Outlook Company. 1922. p. 580. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Schmidt, Tracy (12 November 2019). "Silver Certificates Rule Heritage Weekly Auction". Numismatic News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Bulfinch, Chris (26 June 2020). "Running Antelope and the 1899 $5 Silver Certificate". CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Bisognani, Jim (28 July 2022). "The $5 Silver Certificate". Numismatic Guarantee Company. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "1899 One Dollar Silver Certificate Black Eagle". worldbanknotescoins. World Banknotes Coins. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "PMG Certifies Seldom-seen $100,000 US Gold Certificate Specimen". PMG. Paper Money Guaranty. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Hessler, Gene (September 1990). G.F.C. Smillie. Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Numismatist. p. 1418. Retrieved 21 September 2024.