Alan writes: I have a friend that asked to find out for him if his coin is worth anything. It is a Millard Fillmore coin he is on the front of the coin and a indian and some one else in the back I think the date is 1880 or earlier. It says in the front Millard Fillmore President of the United States. Thank you for attention.
From your limited description it seems that you have a President Millard Fillmore Indian Peace Medal. The obverse shows the head of Millard Fillmore facing right, the date 1850, is below. At the truncation of the bust is the initials of the designer, S. Ellis (Salathiel Ellis). The legend MILLARD FILLMORE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, is around.
The reverse shows a settler and Indian standing before an American Flag; LABOR, VIRTUE HONOR are in ovals above. Below in exergue is the initials of the designer J. WILSON (Joseph Wilson). The settler is lecturing the Indian on the benefits of civilization. This message was obviously ineffective and didn’t seem to stop the constant, savage Indian wars. (Did anyone ever think that maybe the Indians had a different perspective?).
The medals were struck in silver and copper and the original issues are 76 mm in diameter. After 1860 similar medals in a smaller size, 62 mm, were struck for collectors. The original size was struck for sale after 1892.
The original examples were struck at a private mint in New York. This was the first time that Indian Peace Medals were struck by contract outside the Philadelphia Mint. See: Indian Peace Medals
Approximate value range for the copper examples: $400 -$1,200. Value for Mint produced brass replicas: about $5.
