1881年詹姆斯-加菲尔德印第安和平勋章 近未流通
1881 James A. Garfield Indian Peace Medal. Silver. 75.4 mm x 59.2 mm, oval. 2039.0 grains. Julian IP-44, Prucha-55, Belden-59. About Uncirculated.Pierced for suspension, as usually seen, with a fairly large hole positioned at the letters GA in GARFIELD. This seems to have been drilled from both sides, with great care in the positioning. While the cataloger of the Ford Collection posited that the hole in the Ford specimen was likely not of official application, we disagree. The consistency of style and placement of the hole among the medals we are aware of suggests that the Garfield medals were in fact issued pierced. Otherwise, the party who presented them had them carefully drilled in the field, all at the same time, with fairly precise directive, which seems unlikely.The surfaces are attractively toned. The obverse is more heavily patinated than the reverse, with soft olive, golden-brown and pale blue accents throughout the fields and over most of the devices, save for the highest points where just a trace of rub has revealed lighter silver gray. The reverse has maintained more of the lighter gray toning, though highlights of blue and olive iridescence may be seen in the recesses at the top and in the exergue. A ring of deeper patina is noted just inside the rim. A bit of the usual handling is seen -- usual in the sense that these medals typically spent much of their existence in non-numismatic hands. Light hairlines are noted in the fields and a few small rim nicks, consistent with a worn medal, are noted on the rims. Otherwise there are no serious imperfections, and the eye appeal is excellent.This is a great rarity, one of the rarest of the silver Indian Peace medals. According to Prucha and Julian (from U.S. Mint records), 25 silver medals were struck, these being made to order, which was a break from the earlier practice of striking a larger number for distribution as deemed useful by local agents. A specific request for 18 medals for the Yankton Sioux prompted the production of these, and those 18 medals were received at the Agency in March, 1882. Prucha gives accounts of three more being distributed, one via the agent of the Western Shoshonis and two to the Mescalero Agency in New Mexico. However, those to the Yankon Sioux seem to have included this specimen.This medal is being offered for the first time, having descended in a South Dakota family. Our consignors father owned an auto mechanic business in Wagner, South Dakota, which is surrounded by the Yankton Sioux Reservation. He would occasionally barter for his services and parts, frequently with local Yankton people. He received this medal in such an arrangement, and didnt come to understand what it was for many years.We are aware of just four specimens of this medal as listed below, with weights in grains where available:1 - The American Numismatic Society specimen. Ex Bear Who Lies Down (Yankton Sioux?); Walter C. Wyman. The Prucha plate specimen. 2054.9 grains2 - Ex Jacques Schulmans sale of the Ferdinand David Collection, March 1930; John Work Garrett; John Work Garrett to The Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Bowers and Ruddys) sale of the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, Part IV, March 1981, lot 1930; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVI, October 2006, lot 175. 2029.9 grains3 - The Bauman Belden plate specimen.4 - This present example. 2039.0 grainsWe do not know the whereabouts of the Belden plate piece, which appears to be different from numbers 1 and 2 above, so it may be in an institutional collection, like the ANS piece, which is certainly off the market for good. If there are other originals extant, they too are likely permanent residents in institutional collections and really have no bearing on the marketability of this piece. There are also silver restrikes known, and we sold one of those in our January 2011 New York Americana sale. Even the restrike, with an added edge loop (no piercing) and a significantly heavier weight (3001 grains), brought $12,650 -- more than one might expect of certain other original silver medals awarded by other administrations. A Choice Mint State bronze example realized just over $7,000 in our August 2013 sale. These records speak volumes to the absolute rarity of this medal in any form, as well as its great desirability. All original impressions are very rare.We are aware of only a single original silver Garfield medal having sold at auction, the one we sold as part of the Garrett Collection in 1981, and again as part of the landmark Ford holdings in October 2006. In its most recent appearance, it brought $52,900. This new one presents an extraordinary opportunity to acquire this important rarity. Few will ever have a chance to own (or even hold) an original James A. Garfield Peace medal.
