Biografie von John Matthias REICH (1768-1833)

Birth place: Furth (Bavaria)

Death place: Albany, NY

Profession: Die-sinker, medallist

Studied: with his father, the German die-sinker Johann Christian Reich

Exhibited: PAFA, 1811

Member: Soc. Artists (1811, a founder; one of the first group of Penn. Academicians, 1812).

Comments: Studied and worked in Germany for some years, but about 1800 came to Philadelphia. Between 1801-13 he executed several medals for the U.S. Government and in 1807 he was made Assistant Engraver at the Mint. He is said to have gone West for his health soon after 1813, but he died in Albany in 1833.

Sources: G&W; Chamberlain, John Reich, Assistant Engraver to the United States Mint"; Loubat, Medallic History of the U.S., 133 ff. and plates XXII-XXV; Stauffer; Dunlap, History, II, 469; Phila. CD 1803-08; Scharf and Westcott, History of Philadelphia, II, 1064; Rutledge, PA."