1837 Martin Van Buren Indian Peace Medal. Third Size. Julian IP-19. Prucha-44. Silver. Very Fine. 50.8 mm. 789.7 grains. Pierced for suspension, with the hole directly over the D of PRESIDENT, as seen on all known. A pleasant wear pattern overall for an issued medal, including within the piercing. The surfaces are fairly deep gray and mostly uniform, with faint traces of olive in the patina and nuances of lighter silver in some of the recesses. Many tiny marks dot both sides and a couple of fine old scratches are noted in the right obverse field. Otherwise, none of the marks is worthy of specific mention. Close inspection of the edge suggests a gentle smoothing, but there is no clear reason that should have been undertaken. Good detail and eye appeal. One of just 13 examples known to the writer, two of which remain unconfirmed by photographic evidence. Among these 13, just nine are believed to remain in the hands of collectors, with the others being in institutional collections. This one has been off the market since we (Stacks) sold it in May 2007, in Part XVIII of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. From a "Safe Deposit Box, before 1953"; Wayte Raymond; John J. Ford, Jr., our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVIII, May 2007, lot 105.
