1889 Benjamin Harrison Indian Peace Medal. Bronze. Oval. Julian IP-47, Prucha-58. MS-66 BN (NGC). 75.5 mm x 59.5 mm. 2618.8 grains. A superb specimen of this rare and immensely desirable medal, the final entry in the distinctive series of oval Peace medals and probably the rarest. The surfaces are rich chocolate brown and completely uniform save for traces of faded red in some of the obverse field areas. Devices are satiny and lustrous while the fields are invitingly reflective and there are almost no handling marks seen without careful study. The technical quality and eye appeal are both exceptionally good. The fields of the obverse Harrison oval die were finished differently at the Mint. Instead of the customary prooflike texture, these fields show tight swirling die finishing. The finish of the reverse is as seen on other issues, however, with prooflike reflectivity in the small field areas at the top and bottom.<p>The oval medals for the Harrison administration were the result of the Mint simply following what had been done for all the recent presidents, beginning with Rutherford B. Hayes. The official need for Peace medals had dropped off considerably, and most of those struck were for the Mint list and collectors. For this administration, the use of all ovals turned out to be private collector sales as when the Harrison administration made motions for medals for presentation under its authority, it desired different designs entirely. This was not their idea, however, but the specific request of a delegation of Oto and Missouri men who visited Washington in 1890. They specified that they wished to have round silver medals not less than 2.5 inches in diameter, and they wanted them badly enough that they offered to pay for them themselves, undoubtedly an unprecedented situation. The officials complied and from this was born the last of the officially issued Peace medals of the United States, the round Benjamin Harrison.<p>As for the ovals, since none were ever issued there are no original silver examples known or likely to exist. We are aware of only a single silver impression which is overweight and a later collector strike. It was in the Rich Hartzogs World Exonumia Sale in September 1991. It perhaps went unsold, as that firm is credited with having gifted it to the ANS in 2007. Bronze impressions are rare and naturally very desirable. Carlson had recorded four auction appearances, while the Ford Collection didnt include one at all. From the Ronald A. Slovick Collection. Earlier from Kagins sale of November 1987, lot 3006.
