United States, 1877 CE. This is a fascinating and rare piece of US history: a peace medal, struck by the US Mint, depicting Rutherford B Hayes on the front and a scene of reconciliation between Native American and white man standing before a log cabin on the back, emblazoned with the word "PEACE" and a date, 1877, which indicates that this is an original example (there were later medals with similar designs printed, but they lack the date). By the time of Rutherford B Hayes' presidency (1877-1881), peace medals had a long tradition in the US, dating back to the British colonial period; with earlier examples given as signs of friendship to tribal chiefs. However, in the 1870s, the tradition had become mostly symbolic, and very few of the medals were actually given to Native Americans. The finely decorated necklace strung on sinew has two long beaded hair pipes, four smaller hair-pipes, 66 small & four large handmade pewter beads and a green glass bead at the top. The small pewter beads are unusual, the smaller hair pipes and the green translucent bead (probably Russian) are all earlier types produced from mid-19th c. to ca. 1880. The beading style is associated with tribes from the southern Plains. Size: 16" L (of beaded chain) x 2.5" W (of medal) x 3.1" H (of medal) (40.6 cm x 6.4 cm x 7.9 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private New Jersey collection acquired before 1990

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#113678