Bronze INDIAN PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP MEDALS

We have acquired a large number of Peace and Friendship medals. I can easily tell the very old bronzed copper versions, but it is more difficult to distinguish the later restrikes in the 19th/early 20th and the 1950-70 restrikes. One difference I note on many of the medals is the finer detailed medals uniformly weigh less than the less finely detailed strikes. Sometimes the difference is as much as 30-40g. Are the 1950-70's strikes heavier than the late 19th/early 20th strikes? Thanks for the help.

 

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Welcome to the fun Kelly. I think you will find that anything is possible and nothing is for sure. Many different types of metal have been used to make medals over the years. The ones with the most details came from soft material and or they were made with better presses and dies. Some medals are struck more than once to bring out the details and I believe that took more skill from the maker.

Feel free to post images if possible. Folks here love images.

 

Many 19th century medals have the "mohogney finish," which is a rich attrative brown. Around the turn of the last century (early 1900s), the mint began to issue the "yellow bronze" finish which is not nearly as attractive.

These pictures were taken through a slab, but this is the only medal I have in both formats. This piece has the 19th century finish.





These pieces are the modern, "yellow bronze" sand blased finish.



This John Paul Jones medal was struck circa 1845 with the "old finish."



This one was struck by the French Mint in "yellow bronze." This piece is perhaps 30 to 40 years old.



The 19th century medals can bring strong prices. The recent ones are usually worth a lot less. Some times "coin doctors" fool with the modern medals to make them look old. The new medals have a grainy surface; the old medals have a smooth "Mint state coin" or even "Proof" look.

 

It's been my experience with U.S. medals that the older ones are heavier, but I am not the grand expert in this area.

Here's another 19th century meda, next to a silver dollar to show how large it is.



The medal that Congress awarded to Zachary Taylor was in sold gold for his service during the Mexican War (1848). Yes, it would melt for a lot of money, but as a unique item, it would be worth a lot more. I am pretty sure that the gold Zachary Taylor medal is in a museum.

 

If you post pictures, I might be able to help you with your Indian Peace medals. I have the reference books, and I have a few pieces. The Jefferson piece in my first post was struck in the mid 1850s at the Philadephia Mint. Lewis and Clark gave out the original pieces to the Indians during their exposiiton.

This Indian Peace medal was issued for Andrew Johnson. This is a "collectors piece" from the 19th century. The Indians received pieces in silver.

 

Thanks so much for the information. I think the finish (mahogany versus brighter yellow) is the best way to tell. Weights are all over the place.