Born at Lindau, Bavaria. Trained as a gold and silversmith. He came to America in 1848 and to San Francisco in 1849. Employed by Moffat & Co as an engraver. He opened a business for himself in 1849. He was burned out in May 1850 and again in May 1851. Married with three daughters and a son. His home was burned in the fire that followed the earthquake in 1906. He had died a few months earlier.

Kuner engraved dies for the Mechanic's Institute award medal. He engraved seals for Wells Fargo and the official seal of the State of California.

He engraved the dies for the following:

Augustus Humbert $50

Baldwin $5, $10 and $20 of 1850-1851

Deseret Assay Office $5 of 1860

Dunbar & Co $5 of 1851

Moffatt $5 and $10 of 1849-1850

Norris Gregg and Norris $5 of 1849

Schultz $5 and $10 of 1851

Wass Molitor & Co

He also produced the dies for the British Columbia $10 and $20 gold coins of 1862.

bio: Hessler; NYHSD; WWWAmArt 85; NUM 34 Jun 1921 pages 231-232; NUM 65 May 1952 p. 456-457