1837 Martin Van Buren Indian Peace Medal. Silver. Second Size. By Moritz Furst and John Reich. Julian IP-18, Prucha-44. Fine.62.2 mm. 1441.7 grains. Pierced for suspension at 12 oclock as typical, and as issued. The piercings were accomplished at the U.S. Mint after the medals were struck and prior to their delivery to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for official distribution. Handsome deep gray "as found" patina, with some lighter gray on the highest points from light handling of more recent years. The surfaces are peppered with small nicks and marks, but only a single small scratch at the lower reverse stands out. Still, even that is well within the expectations for an issued Peace medal, one that clearly served its intended use as a marker of some degree of respect afforded to the chief it was presented to on behalf of the United States. This was clearly worn for a long time by that recipient, and probably proudly so. It was found in an estate sale in eastern Washington state and is a new one to the roster of surviving specimens. There are 14 such medals believed to survive in this size for Van Buren, though two of those identified await some degree of verification as of the time of this writing. Of those known, four are held in institutional collections.
