Anton Scharff was born into a family of medalists. His father was the well known Austrian medalist Johann Michael Scharff. He studied first at the art academy in Vienna and then under Joseph Daniel Böhm, a sculptor and medalist and director of the Kaiserlich-königliche Münzgraveur-Akademie, the most prestigious engraving school of Austria.
Scharff's talent was quickly recognized and he became the head of the Engraving Academy in Vienna in 1881. In 1896 he was promoted to director. His medals revitalized the sleepy Austrian medallic art scene that had been dominated by Böhm's strict academic orientation. Scharff became famous for his portrait medals and designed several medals with American motifs for American customers in the later part of his career.
Anton Scharff died in 1904.
From the sources listed in the Resources section.