Karen H. writes: I have what appears to be a coin and am trying to find information on it. It is copper, about 2″, has George Washington on one side with the words “George Washington President of the United States” the date 1789. On the other side there is 2 hands shaking, a tomhawk and a pipe crossed above that with the words “peace and friendship”
The first use of the “Peace pipe and Tomahawk/clasped hands” design on an Indian Peace medal was under President John Adams in 1797. Pieces with George Washington and this design and the date 1789 were not struck at the U.S. Mint until after 1900. This medal is still available from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.