(1862) Medal J-IP-38, Belden-64 Bronze 76mm Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,000 MS65BN 06-16-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

The circa 1862 bronze Indian Peace Medal cataloged as Julian IP-38 and Belden-64 bears the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln in the large 76mm (three-inch) format. Lincoln's peace medals hold particular historical significance as they were distributed during the Civil War, when the federal government simultaneously fought the Confederacy and managed increasingly violent conflicts with Native American nations across the western frontier, including the Dakota War of 1862 in Minnesota. The obverse features Lincoln's right-facing portrait with presidential inscriptions, rendered at the generous 76mm diameter that allows substantial portrait detail. The reverse carries either a modified version of the traditional clasped-hands design or a new reverse specifically prepared for the Lincoln issue. The Belden-64 cross-reference provides additional cataloging under the Belden Indian Peace Medal series. Lincoln's administration marked a turning point in the peace medal tradition. The Lincoln peace medal is among the most sought-after issues in the entire series due to Lincoln's enduring popularity among collectors and the dramatic historical context of Civil War-era Indian relations. The 76mm format is the larger of the standard medal sizes used during this period.

Rarity Notes

The 76mm bronze format is scarcer than the smaller sizes. Lincoln peace medals are among the most popular and sought-after in the entire series.

Cross References

Julian IP-38; Belden-64; PCGS #535847