1850 Millard Fillmore Indian Peace Medal. Large Size. Silver. 75.9 mm. 182.08 grams. Julian IP-30, Prucha-48. Very Fine.Pierced for suspension, as typically found, but retaining its rare silver hanger. Appealing medium gray surfaces, perhaps a bit lighter on the high points and with some deeper patina around the portrait and the rims of both sides. Scattered small contact marks in the fields and on the devices, as is expected for awarded and worn medals, but none are individually distracting. Indeed, this is a very handsome example of the large size Fillmore, a very rare and perhaps underappreciated format for this administration. The Fillmore medals were contracted to be made outside of the Mint, and as a result it is uncertain how many were struck. It is believed, however, that about 120 large format and about 160 small format examples were produced. It is known that 25 large medals and 40 medium size were melted and restruck into Franklin Pierce medals. This is a notably rare issue, and many prominent collections have been missing a silver Millard Fillmore, or alternatively, had this president represented by the medium format medals rather than the more impressive large version.<p>When we (Bowers and Merena) cataloged the David W. Dreyfuss Collection in 1986, we commented that the number of large size Fillmore medals known was "certainly less than ten and has been suggested as around five specimens," further stating that "IP-30 is, consequently, one of the rarest of the series." The large format medal was missing from such great collections as Garrett, The New York Public Library, Chris Schenkel, Gilbert Steinberg, John W. Adams and NASCAs Kessler-Spangenberger sale. Not even the collections of the Smithsonian Institution have one. In stark contrast, the magnificent holdings of John J. Ford, Jr. revealed no less than six large size Fillmore medals, all sold in our (Stacks) 2006 and 2007 sales, yet the large size Fillmore is still a rarity that is infrequently available. We have sold just five examples in a the past 11 years, including this one.<p>While a couple of the known examples are a bit finer, high grade pieces always raise the question that they may not have actually been awarded to Native Americans and worn by them, whereas an example that has been obviously worn adds an undeniable element of historical appeal. The present piece was certainly awarded, based on the wear pattern, and thus combines history and quality in fine fashion. It would be difficult indeed to find another example this pleasing, if one could find another example at all.From our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Collection of David W. Dreyfuss, April 1986, lot 5160.
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