1877 Victoria Treaty #7 Medal. Silver. Jamieson Fig. 38. Choice Mint State. 76.0 mm. 3162.0 grains. An incredible specimen of this striking medal, and probably one of the very finest known. Boldly prooflike fields create a pleasant contrast against the richly satin devices. The obverse is pleasantly toned with soft rose, blue-green and violet mottling distributed fairly evenly throughout. The small reverse field area exhibits more intense blue, violet and green, while most of the design is largely brilliant and frosty silver. The detail is exceptional, and any handling is minimal, with only a few faint hairlines in the fields that are largely masked by the toning. A single very minor rim bump is noted on the reverse. The high rims are finely finished on both sides with fine radial lines. <p> <p>There were 11 numbered treaties signed between the government of Canada and First Nations between 1871 and 1921, this being the seventh, concluded on September 22, 1877. There were two signings, the first on September 22nd, and the second on December 4th, allowing further signatories to participate who were not present in September. The goal of the Canadian government was to secure further lands to allow for construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, while the First Nations signers hoped for a tighter alliance with the Crown, which would have been through the Canadian government, who had jurisdiction over the matters of First Nations peoples. It was hoped that such alliance would offer their people protections as the bison herds became depleted and would further secure their interests against encroachment of traders from the United States and other commercial interests. The original signing was at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, approximately 62 miles east of Calgary. The five First Nations involved were the Blackfoot, Piegans, Sarcee, Crees and Blood. <p> <p>Treaty No. 7 medals are quite rare. When this was last cataloged for sale, in 2007, Michael Hodder wrote that just two recent sales were known to him for these medals, one in our Chris Schenkel sale and another in our November 2001 sale. We are aware of no other offerings beyond these and a second example in our Ford XVIII sale. <em>From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from Michael Kolman, December 1955 (possibly earlier from J.D. Ferguson); John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVIII, May 2007, lot 24.</em><em></em>
