Gilroy Roberts

Gilroy Roberts
9th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
In office 1948–1964
Preceded by	John R. Sinnock
Succeeded by	Frank Gasparro
Personal details
Born	(1905-03-11)March 11, 1905 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 26, 1992(1992-01-26) (aged 86) Havertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Profession	Sculptor

A half dollar obverse

Gilroy Roberts (March 11, 1905 – January 26, 1992) was an American sculptor. He served as the ninth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1948 until 1964.

Career

Roberts is perhaps most famous for designing the obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. At the Philadelphia Mint he was designing and engraving coins, and presidential and congressional medals. After being hired in 1936, Roberts worked as an understudy to John R. Sinnock. During his career, he engraved medals for Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Roberts retired from the U.S. Mint in 1964 to join The Franklin Mint, a private foundation that was established in the same year. He is the first Chief Engraver to retire from the position, as each of his predecessors held the position until their deaths.

Roberts appeared as himself on the April 20, 1964 episode of the CBS gameshow To Tell The Truth.

Personal life

Roberts married Lillian Sharpless Pancoast in 1927, and they had a son.