Indian Peace Medals
1891 Sioux Wars Medal issued by the State of Nebraska. Copper. Very Fine.
38.0 mm (drop only). The ornamental pinback hanger is lost. Deep chocolate brown surfaces, with a few light scratches and marks noted under magnification. As with the above example, the reverse is stamped with: PRESENTED TO / FOR SERVICES RENDERED / THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, and engraved to: M.B. Herbert, but without any rank or regimental assignment. Private Herbert was a member of Company H, 1st Regiment, according to a roster of recipients. Another example of this very rarely seen artifact of the 1890-1891 Sioux Wars that included the Wounded Knee Massacre. Remarkably, though it has been formally acknowledged by resolution of both houses of the American Congress as worthy of “deep regret,” at the time, 20 participants were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their parts in the affair.
Purchased in April 2003, via eBay. No further provenance recorded.
Estimate: $500