1801 Jefferson Peace Medal
GUEST:
It has been in my family for a number of years. It was my granddad's. He passed it on down to his elder son. When he passed away, he gave it to my dad, and when my dad passed away, then it has come to my brother and I.
APPRAISER:
Do you know anything about it?
GUEST:
The only thing I did know is that it was a peace medallion from Thomas Jefferson. I had heard that the Lewis and Clark expedition took several of the peace medals along with them, and that's about all I really know of it.
APPRAISER:
It's a very rare peace medal, and they were given to the Indians...
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
...as a token of peace. Lewis and Clark carried these with them on their expedition, which Jefferson sponsored.
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
It was 1803 and 1804. This was made in two pieces. I don't know whether you noticed that or not. But it's two pieces of metal that they struck then put together with this rim. And, as I say, it's a very rare medal. I've had a number of peace medals.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
I've never had a Jefferson. A real Jefferson.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER:
There are a number of reproductions, but this is real. I think it would be in the range of around $40,000 to $50,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my God.
APPRAISER:
I mean, it's a really rare piece of Americana. It's a big piece of history.
GUEST:
Well, I'll be. Never thought it would be worth that much. Should I have it fixed?
APPRAISER:
The rim? That was... By a professional, yeah.
GUEST:
My daughter took it to school and showed it off and...
APPRAISER:
Well, don't show it off, don't pass it around so much.
GUEST:
(laughing) We may not do that anymore.
APPRAISER:
No.
Appraisal Details
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