Indian Peace Medal - 1849 Zachary Taylor, 1st Reverse, J-IP-28 AE 62.5mm NGC MS65BN

Here’s an example of a restrike of the rare Zachary Taylor Indian Peace Medal (IPM). The original IPMs are rare because Taylor only served as President for 16 months, for he suddenly died of a stomach ailment. After his passing, the original silver medals were mostly withdrawn. Of the 396 pieces produced, 307 had not been given to the Indians, and were melted down to strike Millard Fillmore IPMs. Vice President Fillmore became president after the death of Taylor.

NGC has graded 2 examples as MS65 with none finer. NGC has only graded 3 specimens of the Taylor IPM restrike.

Creating the Zachary Taylor Indian Peace Medals

The creation of the obverse dies for the Zachary Taylor IPMs was a convoluted affair. Initially, William Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, wrote to Mint Director Patterson, to ask if the likeness of Taylor, the hero of the Mexican War, from military medals, or even if the actual die itself from a war medal, could be used as the obverse of the Taylor IPM. Patterson said that the original die could indeed be used. But Medill also wrote to John G. Chapman, who modeled the bust of President Polk for his IPM, to see if he would be available to create a bust of Taylor. The Secretary of the Interior also became involved, first wanting the die from the war medal to be used, and then changing his mind to having a new likeness created. Chapman was in Europe, and therefore Henry Kirke Brown was recommended. 

Zachary Taylor circa 1843-1845. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Brown was selected to create the image of Zachary Taylor, and traveled to Washington to sketch the president. By June 1, 1849, Brown had completed the die and he then sent it to Franklin Peale, Chief Coiner at the Mint. However, there were problems with the work, and Brown had to travel to Philadelphia to meet with Peale to be instructed on how to craft it properly. Brown executed a new version that met with Peale's requirements. There was a delay, for it was not until September 25 that Peale wrote to Orlando Brown, the new Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to tell him that the dies were being produced.