ENGRAVER LORENZO HATCH

Many highly sought-after notes will be available in Heritage's upcoming FUN Auction. These auctions will showcase the works of many talented engravers. One of the few engravers found in both the US and World Currency is Lorenzo Hatch. As an engraver, Lorenzo Hatch has a rich history in note design and operations with US and Chinese currency.

Lorenzo Hatch was born July 16, 1856, in Hartford, New York, and was raised in Dorset, Vermont. His interest and obvious talent in the arts led to his education at the Washington Art Students' Club. Hatch continued his artistic education with renowned American artist Robert Henri. As an artist, Hatch was accomplished not only in portrait engraving but also in watercolor. In 1874, the head of the National Bureau of Currency was impressed by Hatch's engraved portrait of George Washington and offered him an engraving position.

 

Hatch's work at the National Bureau of Currency encompasses some of the finest portrait examples known. His work included the backs of the $2 Educational Silver Certificate and the $5 Educational Silver Certificate, and the portraits on the backs of the $1 Educational Silver Certificates. The $2 featured portraits of Robert Fulton and Samuel F. B. Morse and the $5 portrays Ulysses S. Grant and Phillip S. Sheridan. The Ulysses S. Grant vignette was repurposed for the $5 Silver Certificate, which ran from 1886 to 1891. In 1888, Hatch left the bureau to work for the Western Banknote Company. During this time in Chicago, he married Grace Harrison, a relative of President Benjamin H. Harrison. Lorenzo and Grace's son, Harrison, completed the Hatch family. In 1902, the opportunity to work for the International Banknote Company led to the Hatch family moving to New York, where Lorenzo's reputation continued to grow.

 

In 1902, the Chinese government obtained permission from the National Currency Bureau to approach Hatch about an opportunity to set up, oversee and train the engravers of the Chinese Bureau of Engraving and Printing like the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In this endeavor, Hatch's partner was William A. Grant, head of the engraving room at the American Bank Note Company. Examples of Hatch's work in China include Prince Chun & Dragon, used for the face of the Ta-Ching Government Bank. Few note designs were issued due to the revolution of 1911, which ended the Qing dynasty.

On February 3, 1914, Lorenzo Hatch passed away in Peking, China. His enduring legacy continues as evidenced by the $2 and $5 Educational notes being among those listed in the 100 Greatest American Currency Notes reference by David M. Sundman and Q. David Bowers. More examples of his work can be found in the Heritage Signature® Auctions at the FUN Show in Orlando from January 6-10, 2022.

 

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