Indian Peace Medals
Oregon Territory. Grouping of three circa 1832-33 Phoenix Buttons.
Rulau-E Ore-5. No. 27. Brass. 24.7 mm. 75.6 grains. Very Fine. Missing the shank and with some surface scale that has partly been cleaned off. Rather sharp and fairly typical condition for one of these. Rulau-E Ore-7, var. No. 25. Brass. 16.2 mm. 26 grains. Extremely Fine. Missing the shank and with some surface corrosion, but with superb detail. Rulau-E Ore-7. No. 29. Brass. 15.8 mm. 26 grains. Very Fine. No shank and granular from exposure, but still with good detail. Also included is a more modern embossed shell bearing a similar design. The buttons are known to have been imported into the Pacific Northwest circa 1832-1833, likely by a trader named Nathaniel Wyeth, according to Russell Rulau. Their frequent appearance in Western archaeological contexts has led them to be collected as Indian trade goods and as tokens, thus their listing in the Rulau token reference. Rulau notes, “the buttons are found most extensively on Sauvies Island, along the Cowlitz and Clackamas Rivers, at the falls at Oregon City, and at the Cascades. They have also been found near California missions at San Juan Capistrano, San Luis Rey, Santa Barbara, and Santa Ynez.” Notes with these particular buttons indicate that they were found in South Dakota, which is rather remarkable. (Total: 4 pieces)
No recorded provenance.
Estimate: $300