1885 Grover Cleveland Indian Peace Medal. Copper, Bronzed. Oval. Julian IP-46, Prucha-57. MS-64 BN (NGC).59.3 mm x 75.4 mm, oval. Just a faint trace of cabinet friction is revealed on the high points by a lightening of the bronzed surfaces to a light mahogany. Otherwise the surfaces are deep olive brown with soft golden overtones in the reverse fields and traces of light blue iridescence. Adding to the appeal, the obverse field area is semi-prooflike, but that on the reverse is decidedly so. Slight roughness on Clevelands cheek appears to be from a flaw in the planchet, and as made.<p>Prucha relates that in April 1887, there was an official order placed for 10 silver medals for distribution. However, acquiring one is perhaps impossible as we are aware of no confirmed originals. Carl Carlson found no auction appearances in silver, the Ford Collection similarly revealed not a single example in silver, and in that catalog, Michael Hodder noted that he was aware of none. Even the ANS specimen is a matte-finish restrike.<p>This brings us to the bronzes. Carlsons auction records included just two appearances for a bronze strike, while the Ford Collection contained a lone example. There are later impressions from the dies with matte finishes in bronze, but earlier impressions are very rare and have generally commanded healthy sums at auction.From our sale of the Collections of The Strong, Rochester, New York, sold to benefit the museums collections fund, March-April 2016 Baltimore Auction, lot 12017. Originally collected by John Charles Woodbury (1859-1937).
