Object Number 1952.0034

Object Name

Medal (Peace medal)

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Moritz Furst (Designer and maker)
1782-after 1841

United States Mint (Manufacturer)
1792
The Mint was established by the U.S. Congress in 1792 with The Coinage Act. David Rittenhouse was appointed the first director by President George Washington and the Mint was erected in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Mint (Manufacturer)
1792

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1829-1831

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Obverse, lower section, center; "FUR." stamped with no surround
2. Inscription; Obverse, border; "ANDREW JACKSON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATE A.D. 1829" stamped
3. Inscription; Reverse; "PEACE / AND / FRIENDSHIP" stamped
4. Inscription; Reverse; "52.34" incised

Subjects

Andrew Jackson; President; Government; Indigenous peoples

Materials

Silver

Techniques

Stamped

Dimensions (inches)

2.362 (H) , 2.008 (Diam) , 1.8695 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

6 (H) , 5.1 (Diam) , 53 (Weight)

Measurement Notes

The diameter needs to be remeasured -- authentic medals of the smallest size are 51 mm.

Object Description

Web - 06/28/2024

Andrew Jackson’s administration employed the established practice of having silver medals created for distribution to Native Americans with diplomatic or treaty negotiations and this is the smallest of three sizes created for that purpose. His profile and the date of 1829 on the obverse are paired with the classical motif of a handshake on the reverse. This indicates agreement to establish peaceful and friendly relations, also symbolized by the crossed tomahawk and peace pipe or callumet above the hands. The medals were designed in 1829 and distributed in 1832, just as the pressures on Native American communities from the Indian Removal Act of 1830 were intensifying.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Quimby, Ian M. G. 1995 American Silver at Winterthur.
• Published: p. 362, no. 354
[Book] Prucha, Francis Paul. 1971 Indian Peace Medals in American History. 186 p.
• Similar p. 42
[Article] Nash, Stephen E. & Lee, Lawrence J. 03/25/2022 Indian Peace Medals and Other Medals at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Denver Museum of Nature & Science Annals. 9
• Similar: 61-64; p.63, Figs. 4.10, 4.11 and p. 118, Figs. 8.1-8.2