This article is inspired by a collaboration between the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Field Museum in Chicago. Museums like these hold collections that preserve history, but sometimes they raise more questions than answers. One fascinating topic is Peace Medals, which have a rich and complex history.
Peace Medals are large, heavy coins usually made from silver or bronze. They often feature the portrait of a king or president on one side and a Latin phrase with other images on the other. These medals were given out from the mid-1700s to the early 1900s by European and American leaders to Native American tribal members and leaders. Receiving a peace medal often meant that a tribe pledged loyalty to the country that gave it. These medals were like a special currency used to buy loyalty and were worn with pride. Sometimes, they were given alongside treaties or agreements to symbolize a new friendship or peace.
To learn more about these interesting artifacts, we talked to Dr. Steve Nash, the Curator of Archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Dr. Nash showed us a replica shell gorget, an artifact found in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. These were worn as necklaces and had drilled holes at the top. They were status symbols and gifts exchanged between Native American leaders. Peace Medals were similar, as they were gifts from American leaders to Native American leaders, symbolizing allegiance or gratitude for treaties. Native Americans valued them as symbols of wealth and leadership.
The first peace medal Dr. Nash showed us was a replica of a 1789 George Washington peace medal, the first created by the US. It features the US crest with an eagle and stars, symbols we recognize today. On the other side, two Native Americans are shaking hands, with no government officials present. These medals were rare and given to the most important Native American leaders from the US government’s perspective.
Next, we saw the Thomas Jefferson peace medal, the first to be mass-produced. Lewis and Clark took 89 of these medals on their exploration of the Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806. They needed gifts to interact with many Native American groups. This medal symbolizes peace and friendship, showing a tomahawk, a peace pipe, and a Native American hand clasping a Euro-American hand.
Dr. Nash explained that all presidents from George Washington to Benjamin Harrison in 1889 had peace medals made for them, except John Adams and William Henry Harrison, who served briefly. Many medals kept the design established by Thomas Jefferson. One striking medal shows a Euro-American figure, reflecting the identity of an American aristocrat or government official.
The Abraham Lincoln peace medal has a complex design on the back, loaded with symbolic meaning about US government policies toward Native American tribes. It shows Euro-American dominance through agriculture, with a farmer and a plow at the center. The surrounding imagery represents confrontation, symbolizing violence and Manifest Destiny.
Later designs, like the Andrew Johnson peace medal from 1865, are less violent. The back shows the construction of the transcontinental railroad, with Lady Liberty symbolizing encroachment on Native American lands. The design divides the medal’s space, favoring American imagery over Native American representation.
Peace Medals represent the complex and often turbulent relationship between Europeans and Native Americans. They show the human tendency to invade and negotiate over territory. While they can symbolize the repression of Native Americans, they also illustrate attempts to smooth over relationships through gift-giving, a fundamental aspect of human interaction.
If a Native American person claimed a peace medal belonged to their ancestor, the process for repatriation is governed by federal law. Museums strive to do what is right, going beyond legal obligations. If it could be proven that a medal was buried with an ancestor, repatriation would be considered. The historical relationship between museums and Native American tribes has often been challenging, especially regarding burial practices.
Ultimately, it’s important to reflect on the meaning we give to artifacts in our lives, as personal connections to objects can be profound, even if they seem ordinary at first glance.
Design and create your own peace medal using materials like clay or cardboard. Think about what symbols you would include to represent peace and friendship. Share your design with the class and explain the meaning behind your chosen symbols.
Participate in a role-playing activity where you and your classmates reenact a historical negotiation between Native American leaders and European or American leaders. Use peace medals as part of the negotiation process. Discuss how these interactions might have felt for both parties involved.
Choose one of the peace medals mentioned in the article, such as the George Washington or Thomas Jefferson peace medal. Research its history and significance, then present your findings to the class. Include visuals and discuss how the medal’s design reflects its purpose.
Engage in a classroom debate about the impact of peace medals on Native American and European/American relations. Consider both positive and negative aspects. Prepare arguments for both sides and discuss whether these medals were more symbolic or practical in their use.
Investigate modern-day symbolic gifts exchanged between countries or leaders. Compare these to peace medals and discuss similarities and differences. Create a presentation or write a short essay on how these gifts continue to play a role in diplomacy today.
This episode is brought to you by a collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Museum collections like those at the Field preserve physical knowledge, but often, these collections can lead to more questions than answers. This is particularly true when it comes to Peace Medals. Peace Medals are large, heavy items, usually made out of silver or bronze, typically depicting the portrait of a king or president on one side, with a Latin phrase and additional imagery on the other. They were given out between the mid-1700s and the early 1900s by European and American rulers to various Native American tribal members and leaders. Receiving a peace medal often indicated that a tribe pledged allegiance to the country or nation that presented it. They were almost like a currency used to purchase loyalty and were worn with pride. In some cases, the presentation of a peace medal accompanied a treaty or agreement, symbolizing a new friendship or era of peace.
To learn more about these intriguing artifacts, we spoke with Dr. Steve Nash, Curator of Archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Emily: So, Steve, can you talk about the artifact on the end first?
Steve: Yes, this is a replica shell gorget, an artifact found across the Eastern and Midwestern United States. These would have been worn as necklaces, and you can see the drilled holes at the top. They were status symbols, gifts exchanged between Native American leaders and elders. They held significant value during their lives and were cherished by families afterward. I mention this in the context of peace medals because peace medals were intended as gifts between governments, specifically from American leaders to Native American leaders, as tokens of allegiance or gratitude for negotiations or treaty signings. However, Native Americans who received them often saw them as status symbols, representing wealth and leadership.
The first one we have here is potentially a replica; we need to do more research on it. It is a 1789 George Washington peace medal, the first one created by the US. You can see the crest of the United States, featuring an eagle and stars, which are familiar symbols today. On the other side, there are two Native Americans shaking hands, with no government officials present. These medals were incredibly rare and were given to the most important Native American leaders from the perspective of the US government.
The next one is one of my favorites: the Thomas Jefferson peace medal. This was the first one mass-produced. Lewis and Clark took 89 of these peace medals on their exploration of the Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806. They knew they would be interacting with many Native American groups and needed gifts to facilitate those interactions. This medal clearly symbolizes peace and friendship, featuring a tomahawk, a peace pipe, and a Native American hand clasping a Euro-American hand.
Emily: What’s the next one?
Steve: The next one is interesting because all presidents from George Washington to Benjamin Harrison in 1889 had peace medals made for them, except for John Adams and William Henry Harrison, who served only briefly. Many of these medals maintained the design established by Thomas Jefferson. I find this one particularly striking because it looks distinctly American, showcasing a Euro-American figure. The design reflects the identity of an American aristocrat or government official.
Emily: So the back design remained the same?
Steve: Yes, it remained consistent for at least 36 years.
Emily: Has the back changed between this one and the next design?
Steve: Yes, it has changed. Moving forward, we come to Abraham Lincoln’s peace medal. The back of Lincoln’s medal is quite complex, loaded with symbolic meaning regarding US government policies toward Native American tribes. It depicts Euro-American dominance through agriculture, with a farmer and a plow at the center. The surrounding imagery represents a confrontation, symbolizing violence and the justification of Manifest Destiny.
Emily: As a Native American leader, how could you accept this design?
Steve: That’s a great question. It highlights the assumptions about how peace medals were received. If I were a Native American leader in the West, I would be aware of the historical context. Receiving a peace medal from a government agent could feel dismissive, especially if it represented someone else’s president.
Emily: Is this the prevailing design for later peace medals?
Steve: They are not as violent in later designs. For example, Andrew Johnson’s peace medal from 1865 looks similar to earlier ones, but the back reflects the construction of the transcontinental railroad, with Lady Liberty symbolizing encroachment on Native American lands. The design clearly divides the medal’s space, favoring American imagery over Native American representation.
Emily: It seems loaded to have peace medals that were meant to purchase loyalty, especially when we often failed to uphold our side of the bargain. What does it mean for you as a curator to have these medals in your collection?
Steve: These peace medals symbolize the complex and often turbulent relationship between Europeans and Native Americans. They reflect the broader human tendency to invade and negotiate over territory. While they can represent the repression of Native Americans, they also illustrate attempts to smooth over relationships through gift-giving, a fundamental aspect of human interaction.
Emily: If a Native American person came forward claiming a peace medal belonged to their ancestor, would you consider repatriating it?
Steve: The process for repatriation is governed by federal law. We strive to go beyond legal obligations to do what is right. They would need to demonstrate that the item is a sacred object or of cultural significance. If we could definitively establish that a medal was buried with an ancestor, we would consider repatriation. However, the historical relationship between museums and Native American tribes has often been fraught, particularly regarding burial practices.
Ultimately, I encourage people to reflect on the meaning they ascribe to artifacts in their own lives, as personal connections to objects can be profound, even if they seem ordinary at first glance.
Peace – A state of tranquility or quietness, especially after a conflict or war. – After years of fighting, the two countries finally signed a treaty to bring peace to the region.
Medals – Decorative awards given to recognize achievements or honor individuals, often in military or sports contexts. – The soldier was awarded several medals for his bravery during the war.
Native – Belonging to a particular place by birth or origin. – The native people of the region have lived there for thousands of years and have a rich cultural history.
American – Relating to the United States or its people, culture, or history. – The American Revolution was a pivotal event that led to the independence of the United States from British rule.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Loyalty – A strong feeling of support or allegiance to someone or something. – The knight swore loyalty to his king, promising to protect the kingdom at all costs.
Treaties – Formal agreements between countries or groups to end conflict or establish terms of cooperation. – The peace treaties signed after World War I aimed to prevent future conflicts on a global scale.
Artifacts – Objects made by humans, typically of historical or cultural interest. – The museum displayed ancient artifacts that provided insight into the daily lives of early civilizations.
Relationships – The way in which two or more people or groups interact with and regard each other. – The relationships between different cultures can be strengthened through mutual respect and understanding.
Repatriation – The process of returning someone or something to their country of origin. – The repatriation of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin is an important step in preserving heritage.
