Existing comment:
Thomas Jefferson
The silver medals created for Thomas Jefferson established the pattern for peace medals, with a portrait on one side and a message of friendship and peace on the other. Medals were created in several sizes, with the size designating the importance of the Native recipient. The medals expressed the power of the president and conferred great status on the owner. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took a large number of silver medals bearing Jefferson's image with them on their journey to the Pacific coast in order to help gain the respect and friendship of Native tribes. Medals created for James Monroe and James Madison were similar in format.
Robert Scott, 1801 |