The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 59

The dies for the Indian Medals, bearing the heads of the successive Presidents, have heretofore been cut by artists in this country; the earlier ones by Reich, the later by Furst. One of these is dead, and the other in Europe.

I now propose, with your approbation, to pursue a different course, and to dispense entirely with the services of the die sinker. For this purpose, a medallion likeness of the President must be modeled in wax or clay, on a table of four inches in diameter, and I understand that an artist at Was.h.i.+ngton, named Chapman, is competent to this work. A plaster cast from this model is used as a pattern for a casting in fine iron, which can be executed by Babbit at Boston, as well as at the celebrated foundries at Berlin. This casting is then placed in an instrument called a _portrait lathe_ (of which we have a very perfect one at the Mint, which I caused to be made at Paris), and reduced fac-similes of it are turned by the lathe, thus preparing for us the dies which we need.

The advantages offered by this mode of operating are manifest. A model made on a large scale in relief, and in plastic material, can hardly fail to be more perfect than a head sunk originally on a die of steel. I accordingly antic.i.p.ate from this process a more perfect set of dies, than any we have yet made. But it is not an untried experiment which I propose to make. I send you herewith, a medal of Franklin executed by us here, entirely by this process.

The original was a medallion likeness of Franklin in burnt (p. 278) clay. All the rest was a purely mechanical operation, (the work being, in fact, done by a steam engine), except a little retouching, and the impression of the letters.

The proposed method presents the advantage of greater economy.

The last Indian Medal dies, which were the cheapest we have had made, cost $1,160; Mr. Peale, our chief coiner, is willing to undertake the execution of those for President Tyler, for $800.

The Medals for President Van Buren were begun, and in fact completed, in antic.i.p.ation of the necessary appropriation by Congress, and I would suggest to you, whether the same course would not be desirable now.

I present the following estimate, for the appropriation to be asked:

For furnis.h.i.+ng three head dies........................... $800.00 For preparing, striking, ringing, etc., 60 of the largest Medals at $2.37 each..... 142.20 For 200 of the two smaller sizes at $1.37 each................................. 274.00 Fine silver used for the Medals.............. 1,000.00 Contingencies.................................. 283.80 --------- $2,500.00

[Footnote 113: The Libertas Americana medal.]

It may perhaps be judged proper to introduce Indian Medals of President Harrison into the series.

In this case, the estimate need not be doubled, for it is not to be supposed that many more _Medals_ would be wanted. I should suppose that an additional appropriation of $1000 would be sufficient. I may remark, however, that Was.h.i.+ngton is not in the series of Indian Medals, and that Harrison, like Was.h.i.+ngton, is in the series of those voted by Congress to our successful military commanders.

I wait your instructions, which I shall execute with great pleasure.

Very respectfully, your faithful servant, R. M. PATTERSON, _Director_.

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_J. C. Spencer to R. M. Patterson._

To DOCTOR R. M. PATTERSON, Department of War.

Director of the Mint, Was.h.i.+ngton, Nov. 13, 1841.

Philadelphia, Penn.

Sir: I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 2d instant, respecting the means of procuring the dies for Medals bearing the likeness of President Tyler. The advantages of the mode you propose are sufficiently attested by the execution of the Medal accompanying your letter, and, in accordance with your suggestions, measures have been adopted to have a medallion likeness of the President taken, the execution of which has been entrusted to Mr. Pettrich, whose merit as an artist cannot be unknown to you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. SPENCER.

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_R. M. Patterson to John C. Spencer._ (p. 279)

To the Honorable John C. SPENCER, Mint, U.S.

Secretary of War. September 17, 1842.

Sir: Permit me to ask whether an appropriation was made at the late session of Congress for defraying the expense of making a set of medals bearing the head of the President, to be given to Indian chiefs, as has been the custom heretofore. In consequence of our former correspondence on this subject, you are aware that some steps have already been taken for accomplis.h.i.+ng this object.

Let me inquire of you whether the work is to go forward.

R. M. PATTERSON, _Director_.

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_D. Parker to R. M. Patterson._

R. M. PATTERSON, Esq., War Department.

Director of the Mint, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., Sep. 21, 1842.

Philadelphia.

Sir: In answer to your letter of the 17th instant, in the absence of the Secretary of War, I have to state that $2,500 was appropriated during the last session of Congress for making medals bearing the head of the President, to be given to Indian chiefs. Of this $50 was paid to Mr. Pettrich, and a requisition has this day been made in your favor for $1,500, which the Treasury Department is requested to remit to you as early as practicable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. PARKER, _Chief Clerk_.

No. 58. (p. 280) PLATE LIX.

_March 4, 1845--March 4, 1849._

James K. Polk, President of the United States, 1845. [Rx]. Peace and friends.h.i.+p.

PRESIDENT JAMES KNOX POLK.

[_Eleventh President of the United States of America._]

JAMES K (_Knox_) POLK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 1845. Bust of President Polk, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDs.h.i.+P. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and b.u.t.tons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

The obverse of this medal, though not signed, was made by Franklin Peale, as may be seen by the following extract from a despatch of R.

M. Patterson, director of the Mint, to William Medill, commissioner of Indian Affairs, and dated Philadelphia, June 15, 1846. "The Indian medals, with the head of President Polk, being nearly finished by our chief coiner, Mr. Peale, etc."

JAMES KNOX POLK was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, November 2, 1795. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina, 1818; was admitted to the bar in Nashville, Tennessee, 1820; member of the State Legislature, 1823-1825; member of Congress, 1825-1839; speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1835-1839; governor of Tennessee, 1839-1841; President of the United States, 1845-1849. He died in Nashville, June 15, 1849.

No. 59. (p. 281) PLATE LX.

_May 8 and 9, 1846._

Major General Zachary Taylor. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress, July 16th, 1846, etc.

MAJOR-GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

[_Victories on the Rio Grande._]

MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR. Bust of General Taylor, in uniform, facing the right.