Indian Peace Medals
1850 Millard Fillmore Indian Peace Medal. Copper, Bronzed. Second Size. Julian IP-31, Prucha-48. MS-64 BN (NGC).
63.8 mm. 2148.2 grains. Rich chocolate and olive bronze with tiny flecks of lighter orange visible under magnification, which is common to this finish. Glossy with fine satin luster on both sides and offering very nice eye appeal throughout. For accuracy, we note a couple of spots on the obverse, and a small rim nick on the reverse. A tiny rim bump is also noted on the obverse over LL of MILLARD. What will appear as a short scratch off the bust tip in photography is actually a die injury, raised, and on all seen. This medal was struck from very late state dies. The dies have sunken causing both sides to appear wavy and irregular. On the reverse, a die crack follows the exergual line and turns upward, crossing the Native American’s left leg. Three smaller breaks extend from the drapery into the rear ground beyond. This break is seen on all but one of the bronze impressions we have handled in the last decade, this medal being very rare in that early state. The Fillmore medals in bronze were struck after the 1853-dated Pierce medals in bronze. They share the same reverse, yet the large break through the Native American’s leg is not seen on the Pierce medals we have studied. Carl Carlson noted just nine auction records for a middle size bronze Fillmore. We have sold about six different examples in the last decade or so.
Ex Early American History Auctions, December 2006, lot 1055; Aesculapius Collection of Indian Peace Medals, Stack’s, January 2011, lot 6232.
Estimate: $500