Indian Peace Medals
“James K. Polk” Bronze Indian Peace Medal - Julian IP-24
1845 James K. Polk Indian Peace Medal. Struck in Bronze at the United States Mint. 76 mm. First & Largest Size, engraved by John G. Chapman. Julian IP-24. Uncirculated.
Julian IP-24. 76 mm. Original James K. Polk Indian Peace Medal was Struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia sometime about 1846. This type is known as the “First” Size with the Second Reverse that was struck starting in 1846 from the mid-1800s. Its original chocolate-brown mahogany finish has a tiny spot to the right of Polk's head, striations of tone on the obverse field. All of its rim edges are sharp without any dings or defects. The Obverse displays a small High-relief bust of President James K. Polk in a heavy thick concave field. The Reverse displays the 1846 Clasped Hands design die, just a hint of collector cabinet friction on the highest points. There is no actual wear from circulation, though there are a few trivial scattered contact nicks. We offered a similar example in Choice Uncirculated which brought $1,265 over a decade ago in our EAHA Auction of April 2001. Another Uncirculated example sold for $1,495 in the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Sale in May of 2007 and most recently EAHA Auction of January 27, 2017 lot 265, a rarer 51mm size, graded NGC MS-65, sold for $1,920.