Indian Peace Medals
1837 Martin Van Buren Indian Peace Medal. Silver. First Size. Julian IP-17, Prucha-44. About Uncirculated.
75.4 mm. 2317.2 grains. Pierced for suspension as typical. Very attractive light gray surfaces with deeper patina through the legends and thinly outlining the motifs. Hairlined from an ancient cleaning, but soft champagne and pale blue toning has long since returned to the fields. The eye appeal is really very nice as the darker patina in the recesses accentuates the sharpness that remains through the design features. Particularly notable are the fine lines of Van Buren's hair and the definition in the fur wrap around his truncation. Large Van Buren medals are quite often found sharp, but these make for specimens that best showcase the engraver's art and arguably appeal to a broader field of collectors accustomed to nice preservation where medals are concerned. Though this is a sharp one, there is still evidence that it was presented, in the form of numerous small nicks and abrasions. A few scratches are noted in and around the clasped hands. One blunt rim bump is seen at 3:00, relative to the obverse. The production of the Van Buren medals was much more efficient than for earlier issues, and work commenced in 1837, with the first order being complete and delivered in that year. The supply of large medals was exhausted and a second order was requested, with the final shipment sent in January 1839. In total 106 large-size Van Buren medals were struck and we know that at least the first order of 56 was completely distributed. We know of no records that any were returned, so we assume that 106 was the final tally of those distributed. With a single exception, the piercings are very consistently placed relative to the obverse on the medals we have seen, but there are two distinct positions of the holes among these relative to the reverse, suggesting two separate striking sessions. The reverse piercing position is either just to the upper right of the A of PEACE or about mid-way between the A and C. We have accounted for 15 distinct specimens, with the report of one more that we have not seen. This includes one with an unusually high weight reported, calling it into question. We have not examined this piece directly. Carl Carlson had identified 10 auction appearances for a silver large-size Van Buren, and the same for bronzes, though none of the latter is included in this collection.
Ex Alan V. Weinberg, July 1975; John J. Ford, Jr.; Stack’s sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVIII, May 2007, lot 100.
Estimate: $17000