Indian Peace Medals
1853 Franklin Pierce Indian Peace Medal with “Small Date”
1853 Franklin Pierce Indian Peace Medal. Largest First Size. Small Date Variety. Julian IP-32b. Struck at the United States Mint in Bronze. Dies by S. Ellis and J. Willson. Gem Mint State.
76 mm (7.5 mm thick). Julian IP-32b. Belden-48. This Large Size Indian Peace Medal was struck in Bronze at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This is the “Small Date” (9 mm long) variety mentioned in Julian’s catalog of U.S. Mint Medals. Julian says the “Large date” medal was struck from the Original Mint Dies, during 1855-1870. Others, however, say that the “Small Date” (9 mm long) variety is indeed the “Original” and that the Large date die was made about 1870 and used afterwards. We notice that the official Silver Franklin Pierce Indian Peace medal which is actually illustrated in the Prucha reference is indeed of the Small Date variety, suggesting that it is truly the original.

The medal offered here is the Small Date variety and is in Gem condition. Rich perfect mahogany-brown in color, this medal still has some semi-prooflike, perfectly smooth reflective surfaces. A similar example of this Small Date Medal Type in Gem Uncirculated sold for $1,150 in our August 2001 Sale, Lot 1535, which appears not quite as nice.