ENGRAVER PETER F. CROSS

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 33, 2026, Article 12

E-Sylum Feature Writer and American Numismatic Biographies author Pete Smith submitted this article on engraver Peter F. Cross. Thanks! -Editor

Wayne Homren innocently suggested I write an article about 'Peter Filatreu Cross'. Some articles send me down a rabbit hole. This one sent me down a rat hole. This comic strip appeared in The E-Sylum issue of March 24, 2013.

My 1991 listing in American Numismatic Biographies relied heavily on the listing in New-York Historical Society Dictionary. At the time, I questioned the reliability. It is time to revisit the sources.

Joseph Florimond Loubat included a biographical sketch in The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776-1876 (1878).

"P. F. Cross. who engraved the obverse of the Ingraham medal, was born in Sheffield, England, and died in Philadelphia in 1856."

George G. Evans mentions Cross in Illustrated History of the United States Mint (1885).

"Longacre was variously assisted by P. F. Cross… Cross was born in Sheffield, England, served several years in the Mint here and died in 1856."

Leonard Forrer compiled Biographical Dictionary of Medallists (1904). He had a listing for P. F. Cross.

"Mint-engraver at Philadelphia, under James B. Longacre. He was born in Sheffield, and served for several years at the U. S. Mint; died in 1856. He is also the author of some medals, and his signature occurs on the obv. of the Ingraham medal."

David McNeely Stauffer compiled American Engravers Upon Copper and Steel (1907).

"Born in Sheffield, England; died in Philadelphia in 1856. Cross was a die-sinker and served in that capacity in the Mint of England before he came to Philadelphia, about 1845, and became the assistant to James R, Longacre, chief engraver of the U. S. Mint. Cross engraved the obverse of the Ingraham medal, among other work."

The New-York Historical Society's Dictionary of Artists in America, 1564-1860. compiled by George Cuthbert Groce and David H. Wallace (1957) had a listing for Cross.

"Cross, Peter F. Engraver, born in New York, c. 1820. working in Philadelphia 1853-60 and after. Cross was listed in NYC directories from 1846 to 1848 as "late engraver". By 1853 he was working at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. His household in 1860 included Harriet (38), Mariah (16), Hannah (14), William B. (10), and Edward (2), all born in New York except the last; his personal property was valued at $200. Loubat reproduces a medal struck in 1853, of which P .F. Cross was the sculptor, and states that Cross was a native of Sheffield (England) and died in Philadelphia in 1856; this might be the father of Peter F. Cross. ¶ 8 Census (1860), Pa., LXII, 465; NYCD 1846-48; Phila, CD 1853-60; Loubat, pl. 68."

This is great because it cites sources that can be checked. The date of birth, 1820, is interpreted from his listed age of 40 in the 1860 Census. His actual birth was in 1815. His father was William Cross (1790-1815).

The 1855 and 1856 Philadelphia City Directories list "Cross Peter F. engr. U. S. Mint. h 11 Madison"

The 1857 Philadelphia City Directory lists "Cross Peter F. engr. U. S. Mint. h 615 Girard av"

The 1858 and 1859 Philadelphia City Directories lists "Cross Peter F. engr. U. S. Mint. h 2011 Girard av"

The 1860 Philadelphia City Directory lists "Cross Peter F., engraver, 2021 Girard av"

This is certainly evidence that the 1860 Census listing is for the mint engraver. However, there are errors in city directories as in other sources. I don't trust it.

The name Peter F. Cross first appears in the Newman Portal in the April 1, 1973, issue of Coins, the Magazine for Collectors. It next appeared in the July 27, 1993. issue of Coin World.

Wikipedia has an entry for Peter Filatreu Cross. compiled about 2011. Although the author thought this was the Mint engraver, there is no verification.

The FamilySearch site has a "Tree" for Peter Filatreu Cross created by a user on March 16, 2023. However, none of the linked records include the middle name. His mother's maiden name was Filatreau and two infant sons had the middle name Filatreau. The reference to Filatreu is an obvious error.

The 1850 Census has a listing for Peter F. Cross, married to Harriet, living in Williamsburg, New York, employed as an engraver and born in New York. Mint engraver, P. F. Cross, would have been in Philadelphia in 1850, but no Censos record has been found.

An article by David McCarthy in the January 2025 issue of The Numismatist mentions Peter Filatreau Cross.

I trust sources that report that P. F. Cross (18??-1856) was born in Sheffield, England and died in 1856. I trust records that report that Peter Filatreau Cross (1815-1862) was born in New York and died in 1862. Thus, they were two different people.

I believe that Wayne asked me to write a biography of a person who did not exist, and if he had existed, would not have been employed at the Mint. Thanks Wayne!

As Maxwell Smart would (sorta) say, Sorry 'bout that, Pete! I came across that old cartoon but had never heard of engraver Peter Filatreau Cross (or Peter F. Cross or any variant of the name). Thanks for the great work digging into this obscure reference. -Editor

The diaries of James Barton Longacre are preserved at The Library Company of Philadelphia. Here are some specific entries. (Reported by Rick Snow)

The Longacre diaries may include more information on Cross that would help with his identity.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC CARTOONS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n12a26.html)