1885 Grover Cleveland Indian Peace Medal. Oval. Copper, Bronzed. Julian IP-46, Prucha-57. MS-66 BN (NGC). 75.4 x 59.3 mm. 2802.6 grains. A most handsome example of this rare medal. Medium to light mahogany bronze patina is uniform throughout without even the slightest break in tone on the high points. Three tiny struck-in flaws are noted beneath the truncation and are as made. In the right obverse field tiny patina flecks are noted, but otherwise there is virtually no evidence of handling. This is truly a superb specimen, and it rightfully holds the price record for this issue at just a few dollars shy of $10,000, from when it last appeared in our August 2013 sale.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 one in silver and in that catalog Michael Hodder noted that he was aware of none. Even the ANS specimen is a matte-finish restrike.This brings us to the bronzes. Carlson’s 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. The Ford specimen brought $3,450 in 2007, setting up this superior specimen for the record price it brought six years later. In fact, this is easily the nicest example we have seen and it comes with a nice provenance to the Dreyfuss and Schenkel collections. We are delighted to be able to offer it once again. Ex Bowers and Ruddy, December 1981, lot 4149; David W. Dreyfuss, Bowers and Merena, April 1986, lot 5195; Chris Schenkel, Bowers and Merena, November 1990, lot 4039; Charles A. Wharton, Stacks Bowers Galleries, August 2013, lot 1070.
