1757 Indian Peace medal background
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here's a little information about the 1757 Indian Peace medal prepared by a private Philadelphia association, mostly of Quakers (Betts 401). Thought it might be of interest to medal collectors.
A Society consisting principally of Friends, was formed in this city, in the year 1756, entitled “The Friendly Association of Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures.”
In the year 1757, besides other proofs of its regard for the Indians, and in order that they might be possessed of an object which would frequently remind them of the intentions of their friends, the association had a medal designed and struck, bearing an appropriate device and motto, which was distributed among them, it has on the obverse, a bust of George II, “Georgius II Dei Gratia.”
Reverse, a man in Quaker dress sitting under a tree holding a pipe of peace in his hand over a council fire, and Indian sitting opposite a sun above the. Legend: “Let us look to the most high who blessed our fathers with peace,” in a circle, exergue “1757.” The dies was engraved in Philadelphia by Edward Duffield, and cost the Society fifteen pounds. The following letter will authenticate the genuine origin of the die.
Philadelphia, Sixth Month, 12th 1813.
To Thomas Westar,
The impressions which I now respectfully offer for thy acceptance, at [illegible due to damage] dies that have long been in possession of my predecessor and myself; at the early time they were engraves, coining presses were unknown in this Country, they were therefore cut on punches, fixed in a socket, and struck with a sledge hammer. The Indian medal of 1757, was struck at the expense of a Society (chiefly composed of Friends) formed in Philadelphia, for the express purpose of promoting peace with the Indian tribes. The appropriate inscription it truly characteristic, and will serve to convey to posterity a just idea of the men of influence of those days. I remember well the striking of the Indian medal by my father and it was executed in silver and presented to the Indians by the Society. Although this medal may at present be thought of little value, I have no doubt in a future day it will be considered interesting, not only from the occasion for which it was struck, but as it may serve to show the progress of the arts in our Country.
Thy Friend,
Joseph Richardson.
NB: Joseph Richardson, the elder, was a member of the “Friendly Association,” and by profession a silversmith. The author of the above letter was Assayer of the Mint, commissioned Dec 12.1795.
Comments
Here's my terminal state piece. It's so ugly, it's beautiful. The obv has cracked, spread, and sunk so drastically the piece is 3 mm thicker in the center than at the rims.
I guess we're fortunate Edward Duffield did not cut more medal dies.
That would be a nice piece to have.... Interesting history and in silver. Cheers, RickO
Actually, the dies held up rather well considering the steel available at the time. The piece I have was struck in 1875, Joseph Richardson, the younger, having brought them to the Mint circa 1800 or so.
Yep....that is the 1813 date.
Quaker Cracker!
Salted (Nixon), or unsalted (Wm. Penn) ?