U.S. Mint veteran sculptor/engraver John Mercanti has been named the U.S. Mint?s supervisory design and master tooling specialist.
In the newly created one-year position, Mercanti will be responsible for oversight of all master tooling, from design development through the creation of master dies and working hubs.
Mercanti?s responsibilities will include overseeing the artistic design of all new products; the complete development of master tooling (including the reduction hub, master die and work hubs), from approved designs through approved trial strikes; supervision of tool makers, engravers, and other craft and trades personnel involved in the development of master tooling; and the timely delivery of reduction hubs/master dies for all recurring and new products to the die shops at the mints in Denver and Philadelphia.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Mercanti attended the Pennslvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Philadelphia College of Art and Fleisher Art Memorial School. After his education, Mr. Mercanti served six years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
Since joining the Mint?s team of sculptor-engravers in 1974, Mercanti has been involved in the creation of of a number of coins and medals. In 2004, he sculpted the reverse of the Dr. Dorothy Height congressional gold medal, which was produced in just nine days.
His achievements also include the 1984 Olympic gold $10 coin, the 1986 Statue of Liberty $1 coin, the 1989 Congress Bicentennial gold $5 coin, the obverse of the 1990 Eisenhower Centennial silver dollar, the obverse of the 1991 Mount Rushmore $5 coin and the obverse of the 1991 Korean War Memorial silver dollar.
