1853 Franklin Pierce Indian Peace Medal. Silver. First Size. Julian IP-32, Prucha-49. Very Choice About Uncirculated. 75.9 mm. 2356.6 grains. Neatly pierced for suspension at 12:00 as typical. A stunningly attractive specimen that is probably the finest known survivor, and without any doubt the most visually attractive known to the writer. Soft pearl gray silver dominates both sides, while deeper toning outlines the devices, legends and rims. Gentle pastel accents of blue-green, rose, violet and gold may be seen in some areas of the prooflike fields, but also in some of the recesses of both sides. Virtually Mint State, with just a trace of light rub on the highest points and light marks on both sides. Boldly double struck on the obverse.<p><em> </em><p>All the medals for the Pierce administration were completed and delivered before the end of 1853. There were 120 large-size medals delivered and most of them seem to have been distributed, as just 23 were returned to the Mint for melting at the close of the Pierce administration. The net issue in this size was therefore 97 medals. Carl Carlson recorded 10 auction records for a large-size Pierce, noting "8 or fewer specimens." To this, the Ford Collection would add five new specimens. The present writer has located 14 distinct specimens, with two more institutionally owned pieces reported but as yet unconfirmed by photographic evidence. <p> <p>Four other special pieces are also known. One is a uniface obverse impression that turned up in New Hampshire and was sold in our August 2012 sale. The Crane Collection in Denver includes one purported to be silver, struck from a different obverse die with a differently styled date. We have seen two other appearances with this date variant, which is certainly a restrike or forgery of some type, as the date style is similar to that seen on the modern U.S. Mint copies. <em>From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from the Captain Andrew Zabriskie Collection, Henry Chapman, June 1909, lot 187; W.H. Hunter, S.H. Chapman, December 1920, lot 110; Virgil M. Brand; [The Charles Deetz specimen, Stack</em><em></em><em>s, November 1946:1853, is assigned the Hunter:110 provenance as well, but is unplated and probably inaccurate</em><em>]</em><em>; Michael Brand Zeddies, February 1960; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XVI, October 2006, lot 150.</em><em></em>
