author
James Ross Snowden
1809–1878
A 19th-century public figure who moved easily between politics, law, and the world of coins, he is best remembered for helping shape the early history of the United States Mint. His writings on medals and coin collections still make him a familiar name to numismatists.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Pennsylvania in 1809, James Ross Snowden built a career that ranged across public service, law, and historical writing. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker, before taking on national responsibilities in the 1850s.
Snowden is especially known for his years as Director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia, serving from 1853 to 1861. During that period he oversaw important developments in American coinage and became deeply involved in collecting and documenting coins and medals. He wrote books including A Description of Ancient and Modern Coins in the Cabinet Collection at the Mint of the United States and A Description of Washington Medals, works that helped preserve and explain the Mint's collections.
After leaving the Mint, he continued in public life in Pennsylvania and remained associated with numismatic scholarship. He died in 1878, leaving behind a legacy that connects American political history with the early study of coins, medals, and the stories they carry.