15 Facts About Abraham Abramson

Abraham Abramson was a Prussian coiner and medallist.

Son of the coiner Jacob Abraham, like him Abramson belonged to the court of Frederick the Great, and he was the first Jew to be admitted into the Prussian Academy of Arts.

Abraham Abramson depicted among others Immanuel Kant, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Moses Mendelssohn, Christoph Martin Wieland, Johann Georg Sulzer and Leonhard Euler.

Jacob Abraham originated in the German duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Abraham Abramson first cut precious gems at the age of thirteen in Polish Lissa.

Abraham Abramson's talents were recognised by Frederick the Great who confirmed his appointment at the Berlin mint as a die cutter in 1752 after a two-year apprenticeship.

Abraham Abramson engraved small coins and Polish money before moving to Konigsberg in 1755.

Abraham Abramson fled before the Russian advance in the Seven Years' War to Danzig in 1758, Dresden in 1759 and Berlin in 1761 where he cut a new Prussian eagle for the thaler and struck medals in honour of Frederick's military successes.

Abraham Abramson worked at both the Neue Muntze and Berlin Altmuntze.

Abraham Abramson officially became his father's assistant at the Berlin mint at the age of seventeen.

Abraham Abramson was appointed Royal Medalist in 1782 after a long apprenticeship and travelled extensively from 1787 to 1791 learning design and modelling techniques, mainly in Italy.

Abraham Abramson is considered the outstanding medalist of this remarkable period.

Abraham Abramson's output was enormous amounting to over 250 medals.

Abraham Abramson was fortunate to be at the height of his powers at such a time of artistic, scientific and technological advance, military struggle, political and social reform.

Abraham Abramson's best known medal in the English series is that commemorating the death of Nelson in 1805.