1865 Andrew Johnson Indian Peace Medal. Silver. Second Size. Julian IP-41, Prucha-52, Musante GW-771, Baker-173V. Choice About Uncirculated.

62.5 mm. 1487.0 grains. The rare original suspension mount is intact, a feature seen on just over one-third of the known survivors. Just a slight bend is noted in the loop. Yet another exceptional Peace medal, and as with other examples offered in the E Pluribus Unum Collection, this is easily among the finest known. It terms of actual wear, this piece is virtually Mint State, with only the most trivial rub on the highest points. There are light scattered fine scratches and marks through the fields, and slight looseness of the hanger suggests that it was probably suspended for a short while. Still, the quality is superb, with excellent sharpness throughout and lovely toning. Both sides exhibit soft gray, rose, gold, violet and blue mottling, though the reverse is a bit lighter overall. Gentle prooflike character remaining in the fields gives the piece a lively appearance, while the devices are satiny. The extensive John Ford Collection included seven silver Andrew Johnson medals, but just two were of this second size, including this. In his cataloging of this specimen Michael Hodder expressed that he knew of just five examples, and Carl Carlson had earlier found seven auction records for silver examples of this size. In all, the writer has accounted for 18 specimens, about the same as for the Johnson medals of the first size. However, more of this size are in institutional collections, fully half of those known. According to Prucha, the total number produced of each size was 90 medals, so our ratio of survivors to those believed struck is virtually identical for the two Johnson medals.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from Phil Lampkin, October 1972; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVI, October 2006, lot 171.