Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.

Charles Engelhard, Jr. (1917-1971) was an American industrialist and resident of the Cragwood Estate in Far Hills. Many writers mention that Engelhard may have been the model for Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger and recount the lavish parties Charles and his wife Jane threw for friends and neighbors. But Engelhard was a successful businessman and expanded the international precious metals company he inherited from his father.

Engelhard Industries helped create precious-metal products including catalytic converters and U.S. coinage. The company operated at several locations in New Jersey including Newark and Iselin. Pictured above is a paperweight made to commemorate Engelhard’s silver/copper ply-metal used for the 1965 Kennedy half dollar. A sample of the ply-metal is encased above the coin.

Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Basking Ridge. His father, Charles Sr. (1867-1950) rests at St. Bernards Cemetery in Bernardsville.

Below is a photo from the Engelhard corporate dinner of 1941 (gift of Edward Sholander).