“1801” (circa 1840s) Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. Copper, Bronzed. First Size. Original Dies. Julian IP-2, Prucha-38. MS-63 BN (NGC). 100.5 mm. 6010.5 grains. A lovely specimen of this imposing U.S. Mint restrike that is as impressive as it is desirable. Deep mahogany bronze surfaces display mild chestnut brown accents on the highest points of the relief. Glossy, with few marks of any kind, though there is some patina flecking and very superficial oxidation on areas of the reverse. This restrike type is mentioned specifically in a February 28, 1842 letter from Mint Director Robert M. Patterson to Secretary of War John C. Spencer: “we have begun the series of Indian Medals, by striking those which bear the head of Jefferson. One of these, which is four inches in diameter, is the largest medal ever struck in this country, in solid metal.” This seems to have been struck from the original dies as it shares at least one fairly prominent die flaw in the small protrusion off the loop of the P in FRIENDSHIP. That mark is not clear on all silver originals, however, as this area is often weakly executed on those. It is visible on the piece offered previously in this sale and it can be fairly easily seen in the Julian plate. These restrikes are quite rare. Our archives dating back more than a decade include only three appearances, one of which was this medal in 2011. The other two were the Charles A. Wharton Collection specimen in August 2013, and most recently a reappearance of the John Ford specimen in our March 2017 sale, which realized nearly $6,500. This price speaks to how strongly these medals are desired by collectors who might like to complete the Presidential Peace Medal series but find the prized silver originals of this issue out of reach. Ex Aesculapius Collection of Indian Peace Medals, Stack’s, January 2011, lot 6204.
