1794 George III "Simcoe" Indian Peace Medal. Silver. Jamieson-19, Breton-13. Lettered Edge. Mint State.
32 mm. 11.92 grams. Remarkable quality for this rare and enigmatic type. Both sides are fully untoned with bright silver-white surfaces. The fields are well mirrored, the design elements set apart with a light satin texture. Striking detail is sharp to full throughout the design. A bit glossy in texture with wispy hairlines to preclude a Choice Mint State grade, yet still exceptionally well preserved for the type. The often seen obverse die crack is present from the rim at 10 o'clock, through the final letter S in GEORGIVS to the back of King George's head. This somewhat mysterious medal is among the rarest George III types. It is attributed to Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe of Upper Canada, who ordered 200 silver medals for distribution among Britain's Native American allies in April 1794. Simcoe, the founder of Toronto (1752-1806), specified the Arms of Upper Canada for the reverse of his medals, but there is no known example with such a design. Leonard Forrer in his Biographical Dictionary of Medalists notes a "portrait jeton of George III dated 1794" by an artist named Miller, but provides no other identification of the engraver. In his Supplement (Vol. VIII:59), Forrer notes that Lerroux's Medallier du Canada included this type "as an Indian chiefs' medal" without further discussion. Most present-day researchers believe that this design was the one given out by Governor Simcoe, although its small size would have been troubling to Native American recipients. John W. Adams cites a letter that supports this conclusion. Written in modern-day Michigan in July 1794, the letter from an Indian agent noted, "Captain John Doyle desires his compliments to you and requests of you twelve medals and twelve flags to this place, the small medals you send before the Indians would not accept of them." While some other authorities disagree on the origin and intent of these medals Adams, after examining all evidence, concluded, "All in all, the 'Simcoe' medal has a respectable North American tradition." This is indeed a high quality and exceptionally desirable example; it is the only Mint State specimen that we have offered over the last decade and a half.

Estimate: $3000