1849 Zachary Taylor Indian Peace Medal. Aluminum. First Size. Julian IP-27, Prucha-47. Second Obverse, Second Reverse. Mint State.
75.7 mm. 987.2 grains. Satiny sandblast finish surfaces are uniform and lustrous save for faintly abraded areas behind Taylor's head and on the highest point of reverse relief. A couple of tiny rim marks are also noted. As discussed under the aluminum Van Buren medal in this sale, this was likely part of a set in aluminum made-to-order for dealer Stephen Nagy sometime around the turn of the last century. Virgil M. Brand bought a selection of 19 aluminum Mint medals from Nagy on January 16, 1919, including several Peace medals. We last sold both this and the mentioned Van Buren in 2001, but we have not seen any other of this series in aluminum since, speaking to great rarity. Most likely, this is from a unique set. It is struck from the usual dies employed in striking the bronze Zachary Taylor medals, but apparently refinished. Silver originals were struck from a different obverse that must have failed prior to any striking in bronze (or aluminum!). An unusual composition for any Mint medal.
From our (Stack's) Americana Sale of January 2000, lot 759; Tree Many Feathers; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of Tree Many Feathers Collection, November 2001, lot 5168; probably previously from Stephen Nagy to Virgil M. Brand, January 16, 1919. Bowers and Merena lot tag and collector envelope with provenance notation included.

Estimate: $750