Diplomacy in Silver

Before the American Revolution, powerful nations used gifts—not treaties—to build alliances with Native peoples. These diplomatic tokens included:

• Flags and printed commissions

• Military-style uniforms and cloaks

• Silver gorgets (small chest ornaments)

• Decorated pipes and canes

• Most significantly: peace medals

To the U.S. government, peace medals symbolized friendship, allegiance, and control. To Native leaders, these items often represented not just partnership, but an implied promise of military protection and mutual respect.
 

Strong Medicine, Simple Words

To Native recipients, the engraved image of a king or president carried deep symbolism. Without written language, the visual weight of these medals—faces, eagles, clasped hands—conveyed powerful meaning. American medals, like Jefferson’s, were simpler and more direct than British or Spanish versions, emphasizing "Peace and Friendship" in clear, potent terms.
 

Medals Carried by Lewis and Clark

The Corps of Discovery set out with at least 89 medals, divided by size:

• 3 large Jefferson medals (~105 mm)

• 13 medium (~75 mm)

• 16 small (~55 mm)

• 55 seasonal medals (~45 mm)

• 2–4 unclassified "fifth-size" medals

These were given, mostly formally, to Native leaders encountered along the journey. In some cases, Lewis and Clark even "made" chiefs on the spot, a controversial practice that sometimes led to intratribal conflict.
 

Caution, Confusion, and Consequences

• One Cheyenne chief refused the medal, calling it “bad medicine”—only to accept after Clark assured him it was from the “Great Father” in Washington.

• Some Hidatsas reportedly gave their medals to enemies hoping to transfer misfortune.

• The first medals were given to Otoe and Missouri leaders on August 3, 1804.

• The last went to a prominent Nez Perce chief on May 11, 1806.

• Lewis left a peace medal around the neck of the Piegan Indian whom Reuben Fields killed in self defense beside the Two Medicine River in northwest Montana on July 17, 1806, so his tribe would know who was responsible.
   

Crafting the Jefferson Medals

The medals were made of sheet silver, their two sides bound with a silver band. Each was struck with steel dies designed by John Reich, a German-born engraver at the U.S. Mint. His work had to be done after hours, so as not to interfere with coin production.

• Average cost per medal: $7.60

• All minted in Philadelphia

From President Madison’s term onward, medals were cast in solid silver, but the design—**President on front, "Peace and Friendship" on back—**remained unchanged until the 1880s, when the U.S. government ceased honoring its symbolic commitments.
 

Clark’s Lessons Learned: 1829 Medal Policy

As Indian Agent for Upper Louisiana, William Clark helped shape policy with Michigan Governor Lewis Cass to reform how medals were distributed:

New Guidelines (1829):

1. Only influential Native leaders were to receive medals.

2. Larger medals were for village chiefs; smaller for war chiefs and distinguished warriors.

3. Medals must be given with formal speeches to reinforce significance.

4. Officers could no longer "make chiefs"—tribes must recognize them.

5. Foreign medals (e.g., British) were to be replaced by American ones.
    

Clark had clearly reflected on the earlier missteps of the Expedition—and worked to ensure that the “medicine” of peace medals carried both honor and integrity.
 

Today, only a few original Jefferson peace medals survive, housed in museums or private collections. Some may be restrikes from later years. Their legacy, however, remains powerful—a symbol of hope, misunderstanding, diplomacy, and the complex cross-cultural encounters along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

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 2004 P Bankroll of"Peace Medal" Westward Journey Uncirculated