1865 Andrew Johnson Indian Peace Medal. Silver. First Size. Julian IP-40, Prucha-52, Musante GW-770, Baker-173X. Very Fine.
75.7 mm. 2622.3 grains. Pierced through the rim at 12 o'clock for suspension, as issued, but with the original hanger lost. Light silver gray on both sides with darker gray patina at the rims and outlining the design features on both sides. Some slightly darker gray streaks are also seen in the obverse patina, and faint old initials are noted in the left field. Otherwise, there are only a few scattered marks that must be expected on any issued Peace medal. While the original suspension hanger is lost, the tiny brass post that affixed the hanger to the medal remains, tightly fixed into a tiny drill hole in the rim. As such, it is clear that failure of this post was not to blame for the loss of loop, but rather a bending of the loop itself. Some medals in this series enjoy elevated popularity with collectors, the best case being the medals of Abraham Lincoln. However, this issue also enjoys a broader appeal for the small George Washington bust featured at the upper center of the reverse design. William Spohn Baker included it in his landmark Medallic Portraits of Washington, published in 1885, and from at least that point onward, it has been an issue sought after by collectors of George Washington medals. The reverse design is very interesting, marking a shift back to an illustration of cooperation and peace between equals in stark contrast to the condescending and violent depictions on the Buchanan and Lincoln medals. Of course, the actual interactions between the increasingly westward moving settlers and the Native Americans who would be further displaced remained anything but a cooperative, peaceful intercourse bearing any sort of mutual respect as equals. We are aware of 19 examples of this medal, though one is suspicious. Of these, seven medals are in institutional collections, leaving just 12 for collectors. As an interesting historical aside, it is worth noting that the Native American featured on the 1899 $5 Silver Certificate banknote, Running Antelope, is wearing a first-size Andrew Johnson medal, though the engraver did not fill in that detail for the banknote plate.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd estate; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVIII, May 2007, lot 154. Lot tag included.

Estimate: $15000