Moritz Fürst

Moritz Fürst was born to Jewish parents near what is now the city of Bratislava. He studied die sinking under Johann N. Wirt, engraver at the Vienna Mint. He then worked in Italy for the mint in Lombardy, where the American Consul in Livorno suggested that a position might be available in the USA. He emigrated to the USA in 1807 and took up residence in Philadelphia. He made most of the dies for the Army and Navy awards for the War of 1812. He also engraved the presidential portraits on the Indian Peace Medals. In 1835 he returned to Europe and appears to have been active in Munich from 1841-47.