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49-548: The school was founded in 1845 in Philadelphia, near the current location of the Philadelphia Mint . It had an enrollment of 769 students from nursery to grade 12 in 2019. Informally known as "Friends' Central," the school encompasses three divisions: Lower School (nursery through 5th grades), Middle School (6th through 8th), and Upper School (9th through 12th). The Middle and Upper Schools share their campus, and

98-487: A clock with wooden gears. At the age of 19, he started a scientific instrument shop at his father's farm in what is now Valley Forge Medical Center and Hospital, located in East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania . His skill with instruments, particularly clocks, led him to construct two orreries to scale models of the solar system, the first for The College of New Jersey, now Princeton University , and

147-478: A federal jury ruled the stolen coins were property of the U.S. government. In September 2011, former mint officer William Gray pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing error coins valued at $ 2.4 million and selling them to a distributor. David Rittenhouse David Rittenhouse (April 8, 1732 – June 26, 1796) was an American astronomer , inventor, clockmaker , mathematician, surveyor , scientific instrument craftsman, and public official. Rittenhouse

196-525: A mechanical model of the Solar System. In recognition of the achievement, the College of New Jersey granted Rittenhouse an honorary degree. The college then acquired ownership of the orrery. Rittenhouse made a new, more advanced model which remained in Philadelphia. The State of Pennsylvania paid Rittenhouse £300 as a tribute for his achievement. One of Rittenhouse's hands or helpers with the project

245-495: A pending transit of Venus across the Sun from several locations. The American Philosophical Society persuaded the legislature to grant £100 towards the purchase of new telescopes, and members volunteered to staff half of the 22 telescope stations when the event arrived. The transit of Venus occurred on June 3, 1769. Rittenhouse's great excitement at observing the infrequently occurring transit of Venus (for which he had prepared for

294-453: A period of 8–10 years. A total of $ 107,000 was recovered from his home and from a cache in the ventilation system inside the mint. About 445,000 double eagle coins were minted in 1933 , but only one was ever legally released. King Farouk of Egypt contacted Nellie Tayloe Ross , then Director of the U.S. Mint, and requested one 1933 double eagle for his extensive coin collection. Since the 1933 coins were not circulated, she took one coin to

343-424: A small plaque remains to memorialize the spot. On July 4, 1829, a cornerstone was laid for the building at the intersection of Chestnut and Juniper Streets. It was designed by William Strickland . The second Philadelphia Mint, the "Grecian Temple", was constructed of white marble with classic Greek -style columns on front and back. Measuring 150 ft (46 m) wide in front by 204 ft (62 m) deep, it

392-480: A student-faculty ratio of 9:1, yearly high school tuition of $ 25,400 and that 100% of the 93 students in the senior class went on to a four-year college. Quaker values such as community, service, equality, and integrity are all incorporated into student life. All students attend a weekly Meeting for Worship on Wednesdays for 40 minutes, sharing messages when "moved to speak". The community convenes in one room in silence, and individuals stand when expressing thoughts to

441-628: A survey of the Pennsylvania–Maryland border, but this work was interrupted in 1767. In 1784 Rittenhouse and Andrew Ellicott completed this survey of the Mason–Dixon line to the southwest corner of Pennsylvania. When Rittenhouse's work as a surveyor ended, he resumed his scientific interests. In 1768, the same year that he became a member of the American Philosophical Society , Rittenhouse announced plans to observe

490-559: A token of appreciation for his contributions to making the United States Mint a reality. The coin design had not been approved by Congress . Coin production on a large scale did not begin until 1793. Rittenhouse resigned from the Mint on June 30, 1795, due to poor health. In 1871 Congress approved a commemorative medal in his honor. In 1781 Rittenhouse became the first American to sight Uranus . In 1785 Rittenhouse made perhaps

539-554: A whole week in Paris." Rittenhouse was married twice. He married Eleanor Coulston February 20, 1766, and they had two daughters: Elizabeth (born 1767) and Ester (born 1769). Eleanor died February 23, 1771, at age 35 from complications during the birth of their third baby, who died at birth. David married his second wife Hannah Jacobs in late 1772. They had an unnamed baby, who died at birth in late 1773. Hannah survived David by more than three years, dying in late 1799. David's grandson,

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588-529: A year) resulted in his fainting during the observation. In addition to the work involved in the preparations, he had also been ill the week before the transit. Lying on his back beneath the telescope, trained at the afternoon sun, he regained consciousness after a few minutes and continued his observations. His account of the transit, published in the American Philosophical Society's Transactions , does not mention his fainting, though it

637-495: A young age, David showed a high level of intelligence by creating a working scale model of his great-grandfather William Rittenhouse 's paper mill. He built other scale models in his youth, like a working waterwheel. David never attended elementary school—he was self-taught from his family's books, and he showed great ability in science and mathematics. When David was 13 years of age, he had mastered Isaac Newton 's laws of motion and gravity . At roughly age 17, David constructed

686-654: Is a branch of the United States Mint in Philadelphia . It was built in 1792 following the Coinage Act of 1792 , in order to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the United States , and is the first and oldest national mint facility. The Coinage Act of 1792 entered into law on April 2, proclaiming the creation of the United States Mint . Philadelphia at that time

735-541: Is otherwise meticulous in its record and documented. Rittenhouse used the observations to calculate the distance from Earth to the Sun to be 93 million miles. (This is the approximate average distance between Earth and the Sun.) The published report of the transit was hailed by European scientists, and Rittenhouse would correspond with famous contemporary astronomers, such as Jérôme Lalande and Franz Xaver von Zach . In 1770, Rittenhouse completed an advanced orrery ; that is,

784-551: The Smithsonian Institution and received documentation of its rarity. She then issued an export document allowing the Egyptian king to receive his coin. After the deaths of Farouk and the general who inherited the king's collection, the coin disappeared into a European collector's possession. It resurfaced when Stephen Fenton acquired it. When he tried to auction it off, both he and the auctioneer were arrested and

833-400: The United States with hard currency. Operations moved to the second Philadelphia mint in 1833, and the land housing the first mint was sold. In the late 19th or early 20th century, the property was sold to Frank Stewart, who approached the city, asking them to preserve or relocate the historic buildings. With no governmental help, the first mint was demolished between 1907 and 1911. Now, only

882-494: The United States Treasury as stolen property. Investigators claimed that Langbord's father, Israel Switt, conspired with a clerk inside the mint to steal the coins. He had been investigated previously for the crime, leading to the confiscation of several gold pieces, but the statute of limitations had prevented him from being prosecuted. Langbord sued to have the coins returned to her. In July 2011, however,

931-621: The "P" mint mark , while circulated coins from before 1980 carried no mint mark except the Jefferson nickels minted from 1942–1945 and the 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. Since 1980, all coins minted there have the "P" mint mark except cents (although 2017 cents do have the "P" mint mark). Public tours of the Philadelphia Mint are available in which all stages of the minting process are explained, along with displays of past equipment. This takes place via an enclosed catwalk above

980-568: The Fenton Farouk, as it came to be called, was sold at auction for $ 7.9 million in 2002 with a 10% auctioneer's premium and $ 20 to monetize the coin. Fenton and the government split the proceeds of the auction, with the provision that any further 1933 double eagles would be seized and not auctioned. In 2003, a Philadelphia woman named Joan Switt Langbord found ten 1933 double eagles in a safe deposit box that once belonged to her parents; when she took them to be appraised, they were seized by

1029-602: The Lower School occupies its own site. Friends' Central School was founded in 1845 in Philadelphia at 4th Street and Cherry Street, serving as an upper school for the Quaker primary schools with grades 7 through 12. In 1857, the school moved to 15th and Race Street, remaining at this location until 1925, when it moved to its current campus on City Avenue, formerly the Wistar Morris Estate. The main house of

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1078-575: The Performing Arts . The Tiffany glass mosaics from the Third mint were re-installed in the new facility. It was the world's largest mint when it was built and held that distinction as of October 2017. The Philadelphia Mint can produce up to one million coins in 30 minutes. The mint also produces medals and awards for military, governmental, and civil services. Engraving of all dies and strikers only occurs here. Uncirculated coins minted here have

1127-665: The Quaker faith and practice, focusing on a deeper understanding of the religion's history and its testimonies. 11th and 12th graders may take additional study in the origin and philosophy of religion in general. Friends' Central has strong baseball, swimming, girls' track, boys' tennis, basketball, and wrestling programs. From 2009 to 2012, Friends' Central won four consecutive Pennsylvania Independent Schools Boys' Basketball Championships. Philadelphia Mint 39°57′13″N 75°08′51″W  /  39.9536°N 75.1474°W  / 39.9536; -75.1474 The Philadelphia Mint

1176-578: The Treasury, but it was constructed under James Knox Taylor . In one year alone, the mint produced 501 million coins (5/7 of the U.S. currency minted), and 90 million coins for foreign countries. A massive structure nearly a full city block, it was an instant landmark, characterized by a Roman temple facade. Visitors enjoyed seven themed glass mosaics designed by Louis C. Tiffany in a gold-backed vaulted ceiling. The mosaics depicted ancient Roman coinmaking methods. This mint still stands intact, and much of

1225-410: The United States Mint opened its doors, but would not produce coins for almost four months. Rittenhouse believed that the design of a coin reflected the sophistication and culture of a country. The first coins were made from flatware that was provided by George Washington on the morning of July 30, 1792. The coins were hand-struck by Rittenhouse, to test the new equipment, and were given to Washington as

1274-419: The basement turned a rolling mill located on the first floor. In January 1816, the smelt and mill houses were destroyed by a fire. The smelt house was never repaired and all smelting was done elsewhere. The mill house, which was completely destroyed, was soon replaced with a large brick building. It included a new steam engine in the basement to power the machinery. Until 1833, these three buildings provided

1323-570: The coin was seized. It was placed in the vault of the Secret Service in their office in the World Trade Center . While the provenance and paperwork proving ownership was debated ad nauseam in courts, the coin was transferred to Fort Knox for further safekeeping. The World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed later that year. An agreement was later reached between the U.S. federal government and Stephen Fenton in which

1372-460: The community. Students are also required to perform off-campus service for mandatory hours. In the middle and upper school, students must take three courses concerning the history of the Society of Friends and the central philosophies of Quakerism from a non-religious perspective. In middle school, 5th and 7th grades learn the history and faith of Quakerism, and the 9th-grade course further explores

1421-624: The estate, constructed in 1862, remains and serves as the administrative building of the school and an architectural focal point of the campus. In 1988, due to the growth of the student body, Friends' Central acquired the Montgomery School's property and relocated the lower school there. In 2000, the Shimada Athletic Center was constructed. In 2003, the Fannie Cox Center for Science, Math, and Technology

1470-736: The first diffraction grating using 50 hairs between two finely threaded screws, with an approximate spacing of about 100 lines per inch. This was roughly the same technique that Joseph von Fraunhofer used in 1821 for his wire diffraction grating. Other notable events in Rittenhouse's life include: In his book Notes on the State of Virginia , Thomas Jefferson listed Rittenhouse alongside Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as examples of New World genius when disputing French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon 's claim that

1519-485: The first building was ready for installation of the smelting furnace. The smelt house was the first public building erected by the United States government . A three-story brick structure facing Seventh Street was constructed a few months later. Measuring nearly 37 ft (11 m) wide on the street, it only extended back 33 ft (10 m). The gold and silver for the mint were contained in basement vaults. The first floor housed deposit and weighing rooms, along with

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1568-489: The honour to serve in many different clubs and committees. In 1768, Rittenhouse was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society . He served as librarian, secretary, and after Benjamin Franklin 's death in 1790, he became Vice president then served as president of the society until 1796. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1782. Another one of his interests

1617-517: The important centers of the 18th century enlightenment and for the study of "natural philosophy" such as astronomy. Both of these orreries still exist, with each being held by their original recipients: one in the library of the University of Pennsylvania and the other at Peyton Hall of Princeton University. Astronomers who had been studying the planet Venus chose Rittenhouse to study the transit path of Venus in 1769 and its atmosphere. Rittenhouse

1666-550: The interior is intact, as well. It was acquired by the Community College of Philadelphia in 1971 which retains a gallery in tribute to its history. Two blocks from the site of the first mint, the fourth and current Philadelphia Mint opened its doors in 1969. It was designed by Philadelphia architect Vincent G. Kling , who also helped design Five Penn Center , Centre Square , and the Annenberg Center for

1715-402: The mint used a counterfeit key to open a display case. They made off with $ 265.00 in gold pieces (equal in face value to $ 9332.08 today), but due to the rarity of the coins, the men were quickly apprehended while trying to spend them in local shops. In 1893, Henry S. Cochran, a weighing clerk, was found to have embezzled $ 134,000 in gold bars from the mint vault (equal to $ 4,544,089 today) over

1764-474: The minting facility itself. Various video stations are placed along the tour route, where visitors can push buttons to watch videos about various stages of the minting process. Most of the videos on the tour were narrated by Harry Kalas , a Baseball Hall of Fame announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies and NFL Films broadcaster. On August 19, 1858, two well-dressed thieves on a tour of

1813-517: The northern border of Delaware. Rittenhouse's work was so precise and well-documented that it was incorporated without modification into Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon 's survey of the Pennsylvania–Maryland border. Later Rittenhouse helped establish the boundaries of several other states and commonwealths both before and after the Independence, including the boundaries between New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In 1763 Mason and Dixon began

1862-482: The press room, where striking coins took place. Mint official offices were on the second floor, and the assay office was located on the third floor. A photograph of the Seventh Street building taken around 1908 show that by then, the year 1792 and the words "Ye Olde Mint" (in quotes) had been painted onto the facade. Between the smelt house and the building on Seventh Street, a mill house was built. Horses in

1911-965: The school's new Center for Innovation and Design (CID). Construction of Phase II of the CID began in January 2024, and the brand new, fully competed CID will be open for business in September 2024. Friends' Central School students achieved the highest average SAT scores in all three sections (Math, Verbal, and Writing) of the 19 schools that had scores reported in Suburban Life Magazine's 2010 report on suburban Philadelphia private high schools. The scores were 649 in Math, 669 in Verbal, and 666 in Writing. This report also indicated that Friends' Central had

1960-594: The second for the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania . Rittenhouse was prevailed upon to construct the second orrery by his friend, the Reverend William Smith, the first provost of the College of Philadelphia, who was upset that he would deliver such a device to a college located in the rural area of New Jersey , rather than in Philadelphia , which was seeking to be one of

2009-712: The son of Ester, was named David Rittenhouse Waters. David Rittenhouse made many breakthroughs of importance to the United States. During the first part of his career he was a surveyor for Great Britain, and later served in the Pennsylvania government. His 1763–1764 survey of the Delaware–Pennsylvania border was a 12-mile (19 km) circle about the Court House in New Castle, Delaware, to define

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2058-415: Was Henry Voigt , the clockmaker and Chief Coiner under Rittenhouse at the mint. Voigt later repaired the orrery in 1806 and was an earlier co-inventor of the first practical steamboat with John Fitch . David Rittenhouse was treasurer of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1789, and with these skills and the help of George Washington , he became the first director of the United States Mint . On April 2, 1792,

2107-483: Was a huge improvement over the first facility, in space as well as image. Opening in January 1833, its production was constrained by the outdated machinery salvaged from the first mint. Franklin Peale was sent to Europe to study advanced coinmaking technologies which were brought back and implemented, increasing productivity and quality. Sold in 1902, the second mint was quickly demolished. The cornerstone buried in 1829

2156-709: Was a member of the American Philosophical Society and the first director of the United States Mint . Rittenhouse was born on April 8, 1732, in Rittenhousetown , in Germantown , along Paper Mill Run , a small tributary of the Wissahickon Creek . His great-grandfather, who was born in the Rhineland , emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1688. When his uncle, William Rittenhouse, died, David inherited his uncle's carpentry tools and instructional books. At

2205-427: Was completed and opened. In 2011, David Felsen retired after 23 years of service as headmaster; beginning in the 2012 school year, Craig Sellers was named Head of School. On July 1, 2021, Beth D. Johnson, '77, was named interim Head of School. On February 17, 2022, Beth Johnson was unanimously named the 12th official head of Friends Central. In 2022, Friends’ Central converted the former Rex Gymnasium into Phase I of

2254-603: Was the Royal Society of London of which he was a member. It was very rare for an American to be a member of this exclusive British society. In 1786, Rittenhouse built a new Georgian-style house on the corner of 4th and Arch streets in Philadelphia, next to an octagonal observatory he had already built. At this house, he maintained a Wednesday evening salon meeting with Benjamin Franklin, Francis Hopkinson, Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and others. Thomas Jefferson wrote that he would rather attend one of these meetings "than spend

2303-456: Was the nation's capital, and the first mint facility was built there. David Rittenhouse , an American scientist, was appointed the first director of the mint by President George Washington . Two lots were purchased by Rittenhouse on July 18, 1792, at Seventh Street and 631 Filbert Street in Philadelphia for $ 4,266.67. The next day, demolition of an abandoned whiskey distillery on the property began. Foundation work began on July 31; by September 7,

2352-515: Was the perfect person to study the mysterious planet, as he had a personal observatory on his family farm. "His telescope, which he made himself, utilized grating intervals and spider threads on the focus of the telescope." His telescope is very similar to some modern-day telescopes. Rittenhouse served on the American Astronomical Society , and this was another factor in being chosen to study Venus. Throughout his life he had

2401-501: Was unearthed and contained a candy jar with a petrified cork stoppering it. Inside the jar were three coins, a few newspapers, and a scroll with information on the first mint and the creation of the second. The site has been occupied since 1914 by the 19-story Widener Building, 1339 Chestnut Street. The third Philadelphia Mint was built at 1700 Spring Garden Street and opened in 1901. It was designed by William Martin Aiken , Architect for

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