James Buchanan's Bronzed CU Indian Peace Medal

416, Lot: 571. Estimate $500. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MEDALS. James Buchanan. President, 1856-1860. Bronzed CU Indian Peace Medal (76mm, 209.40 g, 12h). First size. Philadelphia mint. Dated 1857. JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, bust of James Buchanan right; 1857 below / Settler standing right before an American Indian standing left, plow between them and both before an American flag; rural countryside scene in the background; above in banner: LABOR, VIRTUE, HONOR. Julian, Medals of the United States, The First Century 1792-1892 IP-36. Superb EF, mahogany brown patina with several spots of verdigris.

According to R.W. Julian: “The correct Buchanan reverse was not used for the bronze medals sold to the public since the mint had only the old Fillmore/Pierce reverses. Although some of these medals had been struck as early as the spring of 1859, when the obverses had been sent to the mint, this began on a large scale with the first regular sales in 1861.”