Washington Peace Medal. Cast white metal. [Nebraska?], circa 1889. 63mm. Pierced for suspension. Baker-173N (GW-1148); Belden Addenda III, pp. 44-45;  Prucha 64. 

Obverse features a three-quarters bust portrait of George Washington with the perimeter legend: "GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY / 1789". Reverse, inspired by the "Peace and Friendship" design of the US Mint medals, features two grasped hands over crossed peace pipes with a superimposed wreath of olive boughs and the year "1789". With the perimeter legend "FRIENDSHIP / THE PIPE OF PEACE"  

A rare example of a privately produced "peace medal" with an apocryphal date in direct imitation of the U.S. Mint Indian Peace Medals, issued as diplomatic tools gifted to chiefs of Native American tribes. Though previously believed to date from the 1840s, current numismatic research now places their manufacture at circa 1889, likely in Nebraska.

In 1901, the molds were in the possession of a Native American in Pender, Nebraska, who produced the medals and sold them to the Poncas in Indian Territory. He claimed that the dies had come from a "a part blood Indian whose relatives then were employees in the Interior Department in Washington, who was cherishing it as a relic." (Prucha, p. 142; Belden pp. 44-45). 

At least 10 examples of the 173N variety are known, rated Rarity 7. All varieties are considered quite rare.

References

Bauman L. Belden. Indian Peace Medals Issued in the United States. New York: The American Numismatic Society, 1927. 

Francis Paul Prucha. Indian Peace Medals in American History. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1971.

[Currency, Tokens, Medals,  Numismia, Numismatics, Exonumia, Bonds, Coins, Banknotes] [Native Americans, Native American History, American Indian, Indian History]

Surface scratches, abrasion to Washington's nose, minor discoloration and wear.