Indian Peace Medals

1850 Millard Fillmore Indian Peace Medal. Second Size. Julian IP-31, Prucha-48. Bronzed Copper. MS-63 BN (NGC).

63.7 mm. 1743.8 grains. Deep chocolate and mahogany surfaces with some lighter chestnut brown on the high points from minor handling. Satiny and lustrous with subtle traces of pale blue and gold in the fields. A few tiny flecks on both sides and a small nick in the right reverse field. As with the example in the primary Ness Collection sold by us in November 2020, this was struck from very late-state, sunken dies, leaving the fields 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 the 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 just described is not seen on the Pierce medals we have studied. Carl Carlson noted just nine auction records for a second-size bronze Fillmore medal. we have sold about six different examples in the last decade or so, including both of the Ness Collection medals in prior appearances.

From the Larry Ness Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of November 2010, lot 7; Stack's, September 2011, by direct sale.

Estimate: $ 600