1825 Bronze Medal J-IP-11, John Quincy Adams

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,293 SP60 08-01-2017 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1825 bronzed copper Indian Peace Medal cataloged as Julian IP-11 bears the portrait of President John Quincy Adams, whose single-term administration fell during a transitional period in American Indian policy between the paternalistic assimilation efforts of earlier presidents and the forced removal campaigns that would follow under Andrew Jackson. Adams personally opposed the most aggressive removal proposals but found himself constrained by political pressures from southern and western states demanding Native American lands. The obverse features a right-facing bust of Adams with the inscription JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. A.D. 1825, engraved by Moritz Furst. The bronzed copper finish gives this medal a darker, more lustrous appearance than ordinary bronze strikes, achieved through a chemical patination process applied at the Mint. The reverse carries the standard clasped-hands design with crossed peace pipe and tomahawk and the familiar motto PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. The J. Q. Adams peace medal saw relatively limited distribution during his brief presidency, as his administration was consumed by political battles with Jacksonian Democrats rather than major Indian treaty negotiations. The bronzed copper format indicates this is a carefully finished collector duplicate rather than a diplomatic presentation piece.

Rarity Notes

Bronzed copper duplicates produced in limited quantities. The short duration of Adams's single term limited the number of original silver presentations, making all formats of this medal less commonly encountered than longer-serving presidents.

Cross References

Julian IP-11; PCGS #534568