Indian Peace Medal - 1853 Franklin Pierce, J-IP-33 Silver 64mm XF Ex. Ness, Lariviere

Original Indian Peace medals are greatly desired by specialists. This specimen was pierced for suspension, offering definitive evidence that it was awarded to an Indian chief and proudly worn, possibly for many years. A well-circulated piece such as this tells stories that a pristine uncirculated example would leave untold.

This medal has fairly consistent medium gray silver with some darker patina through the legends and outlining the devices. Some soft golden overtones are noted in the fields. A clearly issued and worn medal, with the usual surface characteristics. Small nicks and marks around the rims and in the interior, but no serious damage that would be considered distracting. Hairlines from old, decidedly non-numismatic care, another important characteristic of an awarded medal.

Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the U.S., who served from 1853-1857.

All of 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, for only 23 were returned to the Mint at the close of the Pierce administration for melting. 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 as many as 16 specimens, with two reported in an institutional collection, but not seen. One of the confirmed examples is at the ANS. Two other special pieces are also known. One is a uniface obverse impression that turned up in New Hampshire and was sold in a Stacks Bowers 2012 sale. The Crane Collection in Denver includes one purported to be silver, that is struck from a different obverse die without a period after the legend and with a differently styled date.

Provenance: Ex Sotheby’s New York, November 1991, lot 410; Lucien LaRiviere Collection, Stack’s, January 1996, lot 76; Larry Ness Collection of Indian Peace Medals.