Joseph Richardson, Philadelphia Silversmith
Joseph Richardson, Jr. came from a long line of silversmiths. His father, Joseph, Sr. inherited his father’s silversmith shop in 1729 and became one of the leading silversmiths of Philadelphia. Joseph, Sr. set an example that his son was later to follow by helping in 1756 to organize the Friendly Americans for Regaining and Preserving Peace with Indians and he presented jewelry to Indian leaders. Junior continued the tradition and was responsible for some of the 1793 and all of the 1795 Washington Indian Peace Medals – later, he became Assayer at the United States Mint. This circumstantial evidence indicates a close association with George Washington and David Rittenhouse, first Director of the U.S. Mint.