Three generations of Robert Lovett were engravers. There is some confusion over which one did which work.

The first Robert Lovett was born in New York about 1796. He worked in Philadelphia from 1816 to 1825 and New York City 1826 to 1874. He was father of three diesinkers; George Hampden Lovett, John D. Lovett, and Robert Lovett.

The second Robert Lovett worked in Philadelphia from 1816 until after 1860. He was the father of Robert K. Lovett.

The third, Robert K. Lovett, was born in Philadelphia about 1841 and worked in Philadelphia after 1860.

In 1861 Lovett (probably the second) produced dies for a proposed Confederate Cent. He struck 12 pieces in nickel. He became concerned that his cooperation with the Confederates could be interpretted as treason. He hid the dies and trial pieces in his basement. In 1873 he spent one piece in a bar in West Philadelphia. It came to the attention of J. Colvin Randall and John W. Haseltine. Haseltine recognised the die work and pursed the pieces through Lovett. He eventually bought the patterns and dies about 1874.

Engraved dies for Baltimore Female College (Julian SC-5,6,7) and Army Target Medal (Julian MK-1).

In 2006 he was inducted into the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame.

bio: NYHSD