Medals bearing Native Americans

The medal's obverse bears Indian head design.

The reverse bears legend flanked by palm fronds, SOUVENIR / PENNY / OF / ST. LOUIS

This is one of the many so-called "Indian head" souvenir medals that were popular around the turn of the 19th century, this one possibly memorializing a visit to St. Louis. The copper plating is peeling off at the edges but it is still a handsome medal with a patination that seems intentional.  The hair and head dress of the Native American figure as well as the palm fronds are darkened.

The circular medal measures 74.3mm in diameter and was struck in a copper-plated base metal. No mintage is known.

The paperweight bears Native American chief in full headdress, facing half right. At bottom, SENECA / NEW YORK

Seneca, New York is in the area where the native Seneca people, an Iroquois-speaking people lived.

The paperweight has two half-spherical ball feet at the top, so that it rests at a slight angle. It measures 63.2mm x 101.6mm and was struck by the Whitehad-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.

The medal's obverse bears head of Native American in feathered head-dress facing left.

The reverse bears two leafy stalks flanking legend: SOUVENIR / PENNY / (star) / OF / BOSTON

This is a very large and beautiful "penny" about which I know next to nothing. The "Indian Head" pennies were struck until 1909 and had a design very similar to this on their obverse. There seems to be a wide variety of these Indian Head souvenir medals that pair the beautiful bust on the obverse with different inscriptions or designs on the reverse.  Any information on these medals would be appreciated.

The circular medal measures 74.5mm in diameter and appears to have been cast in a base medal and possibly silver-plated.

The medal's obverse bears bust of James Buchanan, facing right. Around top, JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; at bottom, 1857; signed under truncation, S. ELLIS SC.

The reverse bears settler at left and native American at right, land with cattle, homesteadand, tipis, trees, mountains and a large American flag in background. At top, LABOR - VIRTUE - HONOR; signed in exergue, J. WILLSON

This particular medal appeasr to be quite rare because it combines the obverse from the James Buchanan Indian Peace medal with the reverse from the Fillmore Indian Peace medal. Apparently, when these medals were first struck, the reverse dies were not yet ready, so a number of medals were struck with a reverse that was at hand.

The circular medal measures 75.8mm and was struck in Bronze by the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears imaginary scene of Columbus landing in the New World; natives dancing at left, ship in background at right. In exergue, LANDING OF COLUMBUS / 1492; border of stars around entire design.

The reverse bears view of Columbian Fair's Administration Building in center field. In exergue, MADE IN GERMANY / ADMINISTRATION / BUILDING; around, WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO / (star) 1893 (star)

This medal is also known as Eglit-54 and exists in bronze and white metal. It measures 50.6mm in diameter.

The medal's obverse bears Liberty walking alongside a Buffalo. Around top, PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION; in exergue, field for dedication.

The medal's reverse bears South-American and North-American Native Americans smoking peace pipe together, shields with representations of their respective continents at their feet. Above, BVFFALO / VSA MCMI

The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York from May 1st through November 2nd, 1901. The exposition is most remembered for the shooting of U.S. President William McKinley. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot him on September 6th while he was visiting the fair.

The medal exists in plain bronze, silver, gilted bronze, and gold variants. The silver and gold variants are very rare but no mintages have been reported. A golden piece was auctioned in 2017 by Rago Fine Arts for over $40,000. 

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was manufactured by the Gorham Silver Company.

References:   Baxter 106, Marqusee 250

The medal's obverse bears a Native American in full headdress, standing in pose of supplication with arms held out, facing right towards a European sailing ship. Around top, THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED COMMERCE; at bottom, SALVE

Around and across, FOUNDERS SOUVENIR / OF / THIS / NEW KIND OF STORE / JOHN WANAMAKER / PHILADELPHIA / · 1906 · /  THIRTIETH ANIVERSARY

The circular medal measures 30.4mm in diameter and was struck in silver-plated bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Pocahontas facing left. Around, within beaded border, · TER-CENTENNIAL · OF · THE · SETTLEMENT · OF · JAMESTOWN · / 1607 - 1907

The reverse bears two ships under full sail. Around, within beaded border, · LANDING OF EXPEDITION UNDER CAPT.N JOHN SMITH ·  / MAY 13. 1607

The Jamestown Exposition of 1907 was held at what is now the Naval Base of Norfolk, Virginia.  It attracted 1.2 million visitors.

The circular medal measures 33.4mm in diameter and was struck in three different materials by the U.S. Mint.  The bronze variant is #346 and the gilt variant is #347 in the Hibler & Kappen reference of "So-Called Dollars."

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery for their support and assistance and making the silver-plated variant of this medal available to me for research.

References:   HK 346,347