1837 Martin Van Buren Indian Peace Medal. Silver. First Size. Julian IP-17, Prucha-44. About Uncirculated.

75.4 mm. 2271.4 grains. Pierced for suspension as typical. Very attractive light gray surfaces with rings of soft golden brown toning against the rims, that on the obverse are a bit heavier and blend into the fields somewhat. Attractive light prooflike texture remains in the fields, accentuating the design features and giving the medal an unusually sharp appearance. Still a bit satiny on the high points as well. Though this is a sharp one, there is still evidence that it was presented in the form of light handling marks and hairlines distributed across both sides. None of these really stands out as distracting, however. Large-size Van Buren medals can come very nice, and they can come extremely worn. This is certainly among the former and very pleasing all around. The production of the Van Buren medals was a much more efficient affair 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 had been 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 with slightly different die rotations. 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 genuine specimens, with the likelihood of another that we have not seen. Carl Carlson had identified 10 auction appearances for a silver large-size Van Buren.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from James E. Cope (Orange, Texas), December 1979; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVI, October 2006, lot 132.