1796 Medal Indian Peace Medal Baker-172 The Family

Coin Details

Description

The 1796 Indian Peace Medal Baker-172, "The Family," is the third and final design in the trio of oval peace medals produced during George Washington's presidency. The Family scene depicts a domestic setting showing figures engaged in household activities, completing the thematic progression from pastoral herding (The Shepherd) through agriculture (The Farmer) to settled family life. This design represented the ultimate goal of the Washington administration's "civilization program" — the adoption of European-American domestic patterns by Native American communities. The Family medal was the most intimate of the three designs, moving from the outdoor landscapes of The Shepherd and The Farmer to the private sphere of the home. The imagery reflected Enlightenment ideals about the nuclear family as the foundation of civil society, a concept that the founders believed was universally applicable across cultures. In practice, this vision conflicted fundamentally with the kinship structures and communal living patterns of most Native American societies. Baker-172 completes a diplomatic medal series of remarkable artistic and historical coherence. The three designs were conceived as a unified statement about the transformation the young republic envisioned for its Native American neighbors, and they remain among the most studied and collected American medals. Original silver presentations from actual treaty councils are museum-quality rarities; the various metallic variants in Baker's catalog represent the full range of production from diplomatic originals to collector restrikes.

Rarity Notes

Original silver presentations are extremely rare. Baker-172 completes the three-part 1796 Indian peace medal set. All variants are significant collectibles.

Cross References

Baker-172; PCGS #506319; Julian IP-5; Prucha-38