1801 Thomas Jefferson Peace Medal

Appraised on: August 9, 2003

Appraised in: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Appraised by: William Guthman

Category: Arms & Militaria

Episode Info: Oklahoma City, Hour 2 (#808)

Originally Aired: February 23, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 3  

Appraisal Video: (1:57)

GUEST: It has been in my family for a number of years. It was my granddad's, and he passed it on down to his older son. When he passed away, he gave it to my dad, and when my dad passed away, then it has come to my brother and I.

APPRAISER: Do you know anything about it?

GUEST: The only thing I did know is that it was a peace medallion from Thomas Jefferson, and I had heard that the Lewis and Clark expedition took several of the peace medals along with them. And that's about all I really know of it.

APPRAISER: It's a... a very rare peace medal, and they were given to the Indians--

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: --as a token of peace. And Lewis and Clark carried these with them on their expedition, which Jefferson sponsored. It was 1803 and 1804. It's interesting because, here on this side, you can see the handshake and the peace pipes.

GUEST: Mm-hmm. Yes, sir.

APPRAISER: And on this side it says, "Thomas Jefferson 1801," and that's when he became president. And this was made in two pieces. I don't know whether you noticed that or not. But it's two pieces of metal that they've struck, then put together with this rim. And as I say, it's a very rare medal. I've had a number of peace medals.

GUEST: Really?

APPRAISER: I've never had a Jefferson-- a real Jefferson.

GUEST: Oh, my goodness.

APPRAISER: There are a number of reproductions, but this is real.

GUEST: This is real.

APPRAISER: I think it would be in the range of around $40,000 to $50,000.

GUEST: Oh, my gosh.

APPRAISER: I mean, it's a really rare piece of Americana. It's a great piece of history.

GUEST: I never thought it would be worth that much.

APPRAISER: And I hope you will take care of it.

GUEST: Oh, I will take very good care of it. Should I have it fixed? The rim?

APPRAISER: By a professional, yeah.

GUEST: My daughter took it to school and showed it off.

APPRAISER: Well, don't show it off... Don't pass it around.

GUEST: We may not do that anymore.