UNITED STATES, JAMES MADISON (1809-1817), INDIAN PEACE MEDAL, 1809

Silver. Large size. John Reich, engraver. JAMES MADISON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. A.D. 1809, partially mantled bust of Madison left, rev., PEACE | AND | FRIENDSHIP, clasped hands below crossed tomahawk and peace pipe, 75.5 mm (Julian IP-5; Prucha 40; Belden 20), pierced for suspension, edge knock at 3:00, scattered obverse and reverse field marks, otherwise very fine with russet-silver toning

Wayne Raymond Estate, July, 28, 1958; John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, part XVIII, Stack’s, May 22, 2007, lot 65

The first medals were not delivered until December, 1814. The protracted development included the hunt for a suitable artist to provide a model for engraver John Reich to work from. These artists included architect William Thornton, who suggested the renowned portraitist Saint-Memin, to no avail; Gilbert Stuart was considered, before the commission eventually went to Giuseppe Franzoni (1779-1815), whose sculptures in the old Capitol were destroyed in August, 1814. Franzoni’s bust of Madison was completed in December, 1812, but not sent to Philadelphia until February, 1814. The bust itself was deposited at the American Philosophical Society.