George Frederick Cumming Smillie (November 22, 1854 – January 21, 1924) also known as G.F.C. Smillie or Fred Smillie was an engraver for the United States Treasury. Smillie engraved portraits for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) from 1894 to 1924.
Early life
Fred Smillie was born in November 22, 1854, in New York City.[1] His parents were David Smillie jr. and Margaret Smillie. Several member of the Smillie family were associated with the design of currency. He showed an aptitude for art and engraving as a boy. When Fred Smillie was 17 years old he learned engraving by working with his uncle James David Smillie.[2]
Career
In 1871, he worked for his uncle James David Smillie at the American Banknote Company. In his career he worked for several other banknote companies. In 1894 he began working as an engraver for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).[1] In 1895 his salary at the BEP was $6,000 (equivalent to $219,744 in 2023) per year.[3] In 1918 he was made the superintendent of portrait engraving at the BEP. His portraits and vignettes appeared on stamps, currencies and securities.[1] He was a steel-plate engraver and was known for his engravings of presidential portraits.[4]
Smillie engraved the portrait of Chief Tatoka-Inyanka (Running Antelope) of the Hunkpapa Sioux which is found on the large size 1899 United States five-dollar Silver Certificate.[5] During the photoshoot Running Antelope wore his three-feathered headdress but when engraving for the note, his headdress did not fit in the space of the 1899 five-dollar Silver Certificate. Smillie found an image of a feathered-War bonnet that was likely Pawnee and he used it in the engraving. Because of the incorrect headdress, the engraved portrait was controversial.[6][7]
His engravings can be seen on the 1896 five-dollar bill (Electricity as the Dominant Force in the World, the 1899 five-dollar bill (Chief), the 1899 two-dollar bill, the 1923 one-dollar bill and other banknotes and checks. He also completed engravings likeThe Reapers which were used in the background of banknotes. His engraving of George Washington was used on several different banknotes.[2] Smillie retired from the BEP on March 31, 1922.[10]
Gallery
1896 five dollar bill
1899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate
1928 US one-dollar bill
1934 US $100,000 bill
The reapers by G.F.C. Smillie
George Washington engraving by G.F.C. Smillie based on a painting by Gilbert Stuart