United States, John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), Indian Peace Medal, 1825

Silver. Large size. Mortiz Furst, obverse; John Reich, reverse. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -·1825·-, partially mantled bust of Adams right, rev., PEACE | AND | FRIENDSHIP, clasped hands below crossed tomahawk and peace pipe, 75.6 mm (Julian IP-11; Prucha 42; Belden 26; COAC 1997, p. 42, US-4), typically weak at ADAMS (but stronger than many examples), pierced for suspension, scattered marks mainly on obverse, otherwise very fine and dark toned

F.C.C. Boyd Collection; John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, part XVIII, Stack’s, May 22, 2007, lot 81

Thomas McKenney engaged Mortiz Furst, and the President sat for him in May and June, 1825. In September the initial trials of all three sizes were sent to McKenney for his approval; it was not forthcoming and corrections, amidst rancor on all sides, continued until the first delivery of the finished product in December 1825. The President was never pleased with either the medal, which he called “poorly executed”, nor the artist, whom he described as “pinchingly poor, both in purse, and as an artist.”