Indian Peace Medals
Very Rare German Silver 1911 “Osage” Indian Peace Medal by Edward Elder Only 25 Struck in German Silver
1911, Osage Indian Peace Medal, by Edward Elder, Struck in German Silver, Very Rare Only 25 Struck, Choice Cameo Prooflike Uncirculated.
38 mm. Very Rare, one of Only 25 Medals Struck in German Silver (Copper-nickel). This medal is extremely attractive being brilliant white and having prooflike fields and fully frosted white cameo devices. Holed at the top for suspension, as issued. The background of this medal is recounted in “Indian Peace Medals and Related Items” by Rita Laws (pages 41-42). Presented by Edward Knox Elder, an Indian trader, to the Osage Indian tribe of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The obverse bears the bust of a leading Osage chief in a fur cap surrounded by Indian legends, which has been translated as, “Osage Chief Bacon Rind.” The reverse bears the clasped hands of friendship between a White man and an Indian, with peace pipe and tomahawk above (reminiscent of the U.S. Mint-issued Indian Peace Medals). The legend translates as, “Little Coon” (a name given by Elder as a complimentary title). This was probably the first medal bearing Indian words that was ever given to a tribe of Indians. Five (5) medals were struck in Silver and presented to leading Chiefs; (25) were in German Silver, (25) in Brass, and (15) in Copper were struck for presentation to lesser Chiefs. There were 400 medals struck in Aluminum for presentation to braves and squaws. This rare medal would make a wonderful addition to any advanced collection of Indian Peace Medals. A premium quality medal. The only sale record we could find of one of these Osage Peace Medals, was a silver striking in Stack’s Ford XVI Sale of about 15 years ago, which sold in Uncirculated Proof for $5,500.