1881 Bronze Medal J-IP-45, Chester A. Arthur

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,840 MS65BN 06-16-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1881 bronze Indian Peace Medal cataloged as Julian IP-45 bears the portrait of President Chester A. Arthur, who completed the term of the assassinated James A. Garfield. This bronze duplicate was produced at the Philadelphia Mint for collector distribution and provides an affordable alternative to the rare silver presentation version. The obverse features Arthur's right-facing portrait with the presidential inscription dating his accession to 1881. The reverse carries the peace medal design. Bronze duplicates were struck in larger quantities than silver presentation medals and were sold to the public through the Mint. Arthur's unexpected presidency followed one of the most dramatic political transitions in American history. As a political machine operative from New York, Arthur had been an unlikely choice for vice president and an even more unlikely reformer. His presidency saw the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, and in Indian affairs he continued the reservation policies of his predecessors while beginning to support the allotment movement that would reshape Native American landholdings.

Rarity Notes

Bronze duplicates produced in moderate quantities for collector sale. More commonly available than the silver presentation version.

Cross References

Julian IP-45; PCGS #811915