Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The Jefferson peace medal, designed and engraved by John Reich, was the first to bear the image of an American president. Jefferson was depicted in profile on the obverse of the medal, with the inscription: "TH. JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. A.D. 1801." The inscription on the reverse, "PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP," was symbolized by the image of clasped hands and a crossed tomahawk and peace pipe.

The Jefferson medal was struck in three sizes, from two to four inches in diameter. The two sides of the medal were struck separately, on thin sheets of silver, and then united by a silver band. The peace medals of succeeding administrations were struck from solid silver.

Jefferson, who had a lifelong interest in Indian cultures, displayed his collection of Native American artifacts in his "Indian Hall" at Monticello. The Monticello Museum Shops sell reproductions of the Jefferson Indian peace medal. For information, please call (434) 984-9840.

--Lucia C. Stanton, Monticello Research Department, September 1993