1862 Abraham Lincoln Indian Peace Medal. Silver. First Size. Second Reverse. Julian IP-38, Prucha-51. Choice About Uncirculated.

75.5 mm. 2643.5 grains. Pierced for suspension as typical, with what is likely the original silver loop intact. Deeply toned on the obverse with broadly mottled blue, steel and soft rosy champagne toning over much of the surface, though areas of lighter silver do show through. The reverse is far more brilliant, with soft lilac toning and a broad arc of steel blue at the border from about 1:00 to 7:00. Extremely sharp and prooflike, and extremely attractive. As with other medals in this sale, this is among the nicer examples we have seen for the type and carries a fine provenance to the Garrett Collection. The large-size Lincoln medals exist with two different reverse dies. The original die cut for the Buchanan medals is reported to have been used to strike eight large-size Lincolns before it failed and needed to be replaced, either very late in 1862 or in early 1863. We are aware of just a single surviving example, found in Genoa, Nebraska early in the 20th century. It has been at the ANS since 1915. Mint records indicate that 100 Lincoln medals of each size were ordered and there is no commentary by Prucha or Julian to suggest any were returned unused. We are aware of 36 examples in silver. However, the number of issued originals is smaller. The large Lincoln medals seem to have been struck on four different weight standards. The unique medal from the signed reverse is the lightest among them and certainly original. Most others weigh similar to this. Two heavier standards include a few unpierced ones that were clearly for collectors, so it is likely that all of those (at least eight of them) are restrikes. The Mint records given by Robert Julian include two silver medals struck in 1864, one in 1868 and one in 1874. Presumably, there were others at various times, made to order. A total of 11 of the known medals are in museum hands. This is a superb piece in every respect, offering exceptional quality, good eye appeal and a nice provenance.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the Garrett Collection, Part IV, March 1981, lot 1927 (the extended provenance in that catalog is incorrect).