The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 9, February 27, 2005, Article 7

JOHN ADAMS PEACE MEDAL DIE INFORMATION

In the v8n7 issue of The E-Sylum (February 13, 2005),
Anne E. Bentley, Curator of Art at the Massachusetts
Historical Society asked for information regarding the
MHS specimen of the John Adams Indian Peace medal,
signed "Leonard".

Roger W. Burdette writes: "From October 28 to November
4, 1878 there is an exchange of letters between A. Louden
Snowden and Robert Preston, Acting Director of the Mint,
in which Snowden outlines ownership of the Adams medal
obverse die. “This die was purchased by Mr. Mickley from
a son-in-law of Michael Eckfeldt…and on this side it is
claimed that this die was made for and purchased by Adam
Eckfeldt, and that the government never had possession of it.”
Snowden then recommends that the Mint purchase the die
from the Mickley auction. On October 30 Preston authorized
buying the die for $40 and on November 4 Snowden reported
that, “…I purchased the die from Henry J. Mickley…for the
sum of $40.00….Previous to receiving your letter, I learned
that a private party prepared to pay the sum of $100 for the
die at the sale….I saw Mr. Mickley and agreed to purchase
the die at the price he named.”

Snowden then described a much earlier conversation with
Franklin Peale regarding the Adams die, and was then able
to examine Robert Patterson’s manuscript for “Register of
Medal Dies of the United States.” Snowden stated, “…[I]
was then enabled to examine the same and found the
following very interesting note in relation to the die under
consideration: ‘Chief Coiner’s Office Mint of the U.S., 1841.
There is an obverse die engraved by Fürst with the portrait
of John Adams. It is the property of Mr. Adam Eckfeldt
and in his possession. It is a good likeness and otherwise a
good work of art, probably the only one in existence, and
is very desirable to complete the series of Presidential
medals.’ This is in Mr. Peale’s handwriting.”

Director Linderman repaid Snowden for his $40 and
ownership of the Adams die passed to the U.S. Mint
collection."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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