Gilroy Roberts Explained

Gilroy Roberts
Office:9th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
Term Start:1948
Term End:1964
Predecessor:John R. Sinnock
Successor:Frank Gasparro
Birth Date:11 March 1905
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Havertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Profession:Sculptor

Gilroy Roberts (March 11, 1905 – January 26, 1992)[1] was an American sculptor. He served as the ninth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1948 until 1964.

Career

Roberts is perhaps most famous for designing the obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. At the Philadelphia Mint he was designing and engraving coins, and presidential and congressional medals.[2] After being hired in 1936, Roberts worked as an understudy to John R. Sinnock. During his career, he engraved medals for Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.[3]

Roberts retired from the U.S. Mint in 1964 to join The Franklin Mint, a private foundation that was established in the same year. He is the first Chief Engraver to retire from the position, as each of his predecessors held the position until their deaths.

Roberts appeared as himself on the April 20, 1964 episode of the CBS gameshow To Tell The Truth.[4]

Personal life

Roberts married Lillian Sharpless Pancoast in 1927, and they had a son.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gilroy Roberts . Smithsonian American Art Museum . 25 October 2021 .
  2. Web site: Gilroy Roberts Gallery . 8 November 2013 . Community College of Philadelphia . 25 October 2021 .
  3. Web site: Bowers . Q. David . REMEMBERING CHIEF ENGRAVER GILROY ROBERTS . stacksbowers.com . Stack’s Bowers Numismatics, LLC. . 14 December 2023.
  4. Web site: To Tell the Truth . . 14 October 2016 . 13 May 2024.