(1729) Silver Medal Betts-160, Louis XV Indian Peace

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal, Betts-160, commemorates a Louis XV Indian Peace medal from circa 1729. French Indian Peace medals were presented to Native American leaders as diplomatic gifts to cement alliances and encourage trade relationships. These medals were essential tools of French colonial diplomacy, particularly in the interior of North America where French fur traders and missionaries depended on maintaining friendly relationships with indigenous peoples. The dissemination of commemorative medals through diplomatic channels, military distribution, and commercial sale created a network of information about New World events that complemented printed news and official correspondence. Louis XV Indian Peace medals are among the most historically significant pieces in colonial American numismatics, representing the intersection of European diplomacy and Native American politics that shaped the colonial frontier.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. French Indian Peace medals are among the most important colonial American numismatic items.

Cross References

Betts-160