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(1776-1820) George III Indian Peace Medal.

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:20,000.00 CAD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 CAD
(1776-1820) George III Indian Peace Medal.

Buyer’s Premiums will be added on all items as per the Terms & Conditions of the sale. Invoices will be emailed out after all sessions of the Toronto Coin Expo Spring Sale have concluded.

(1776-1820) George III Indian Peace Medal. McLachlan-293, Betts-438, Breton-10, Jaimeson-17, Adams 7.2 (six rivets above sash, one below, lion’s paw resting on N). 78.7mm. 87.6g. These large-size medals were awarded to the Indigenous peoples of North America by the British for services rendered during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and even later. They have been avidly collected since at least the mid-19th century and have long been featured among the great rarities in the Canadian (and America) series.
This particular example was put up for the sale by the descendants of its original recipient. The medal was sold with two original documents, and the lot were purchased by Warren Baker, who later offered the medal with the following information:

“This medal was presented to the Ottawa Chief Egonemay (variously spelt), presumably for his participation with the British during the Revolutionary War. Earlier on, in July 1763, he was one of the chiefs who had brought the members of the garrison and traders at Fort Michilimacinac and La Base safely to Montreal. For this act he was presented with the certificate of Henry Gladden, Commandant of Fort Detroit in July 1764, and the testimonial of Sir William Johnson the following month, dated at Niagara, the 1st of August, 1764. The medal and the certificates have been in the family from their issuance till 2009, a period of well over two centuries! After the Revolutionary War many of the Ottawa who had supported the British returned to Canada, settling to a great extent in the Georgian Bay Area, on Manitoulin Island and on Walpole Island in Lake St. Clair.”

The medal survives in bright but minimally worn condition, showing evidence of polishing typical of awarded peace medals. Although the original hanger has been lost, a late-18th or early-19th century hanger serves as a replacement. The hanger, which Baker describes as “ovoid in form” and “handworked,” is marked PB for Peter Bohle, an important Montreal silversmith who operated from the 1780s through the 1860s.
To be sure, this spectacular, well-pedigreed undated George III Indian peace medal is sure to generate tremendous interested and intense competition. Indeed, we would not be surprised to see it set a new record price for the type.
Ex: Presented to Egonemay Cornhanger, an Ottawa Chief; by descent through the family; Bonham’s (5/25/2009), lot 28; Warren Baker; Andrew McKaig; the present consignor.