Fascinating Presentation Pair of 1881 Chester A. Arthur Indian Peace Medals. Oval. Copper, Bronzed. IP-45, Prucha-56, with original case. Both 75.5 x 59.4 mm. A matched pair with an original presentation case. MS-64 BN (NGC). 2010.1 grains. Light olive and mahogany brown with soft pastel tones in the reflective fields. A trace of rub on the high points of the obverse, while the reverse is pristine in this respect. A couple of small marks and softly speckled patina on the obverse. Uncirculated Details--Environmental Damage (NGC). 2017.0 grains. Deeper mahogany brown with nice reflectivity but several notable oxidation spots on the obverse. Otherwise, any evidence of handling is very minimal. Soft pastel toning in the fields. The original red case of issue is valuable for the story it tells about these medals having been together from the beginning. Inside are two white velvet (though now a bit stained) fitted depressions for holding the medals, likely intended to show the obverse of one and the reverse of the other simultaneously. The inside lid is white satin. The hinged end of the case is lost, so it is in two pieces. Also included is an original presentation card seemingly made to fit within the box. It is torn and bent, but all present. It bears the portrait of Arthur along with a three line inscription below: "Peace medal presented by / PRESIDENT CHESTER A. ARTHUR / To Indians, 1881." The presidents name has been written by hand in India ink, and the date, 1881, has been corrected by hand from 1801, which begs the question as to whether this card originally bore a Jefferson portrait, over which the Arthur portrait was pasted, and accompanied some version of a Jefferson Peace medal. Either way, it is a most unusual little set and the Arthur medals, like the other ovals, are quite rare.It is believed that just five original silver Arthur medals were struck for presentation to Native Americans. If indeed those five were presented as intended, we are not aware of a single one that survives. There are silver impressions, however, including one certain original that appeared in the Ford sale. It was pierced, as one would expect for an issued medal, yet it bore a provenance to Arthurs secretary of the Interior, H. Moore Teller, and it is believed that his medal is one recorded as having been struck in February 1885 and sent to the Mint Director. Michael Hodder, writing in the Ford catalog, noted two originals and included the Dreyfuss specimen, which was unpierced and more than 10% heavier than the Teller-Ford medal. If the one sent to the Mint Director and given to Teller was pierced, it is fairly safe to assume that all of the originals were, as it was customary for the piercings to be done by the Mint. As such, it remains the writers opinion that while "original" or early impressions in silver exist, none of those awarded to Native Americans are known today.As to the matter of the bronzes, 37 are reported to have been struck by the Mint in the fiscal year ending August 1, 1883. Five more were ordered in 1885. Of prime interest here, however, is the mention by Prucha that two bronze examples were sent to Louisville, Kentucky, for display at the Southern Exposition in 1883. As this cased pair is unique as far as we are aware, and they were clearly intended for display, we would go so far as to state it highly probable that this is the pair referenced as having been sent to the Exposition. Having fitted openings for two medals allowing obverse and reverse to be shown simultaneously suggests that they were to be displayed in a setting where they could not be handled, behind a showcase. For any other circumstance, a single medal would be sufficient. (Total: 2 medals; 1 case; 1 card) Ex Stacks Bowers Galleries, September 2011, lot 99.
