William Kneass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint | |
| In office January 29, 1824 – August 27, 1840 | |
| President | John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Robert Scot |
| Succeeded by | Christian Gobrecht |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 25, 1780 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | August 27, 1840 (aged 59) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Spouse | Mary Turner Honeyman Kneass |
| Children | Samuel Honeyman Strickland Kneass 4 others |
| Occupation | engraver |
William Kneass (/ˈniːs/ "niece"; September 25, 1780 – August 27, 1840) was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass is credited with designing the "Classic Head" motif, which appeared on numerous denominations of American currency, including the gold quarter eagle ($2.50) and half eagle ($5.00) gold pieces from 1834 to 1839. He also modified John Reich's "Capped Bust" design for use on the half dime through half-dollar from 1829 to 1837.