PRESIDENT JAMES KNOX POLK.
[Eleventh President of the United States of America.]
JAMES K (Knox) POLK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 1845. Bust of President Polk, facing the left.
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and buttons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and tomahawk crossed—Indian emblems of peace and war.
The obverse of this medal, though not signed, was made by Franklin Peale, as may be seen by the following extract from a despatch of R. M. Patterson, director of the Mint, to William Medill, commissioner of Indian Affairs, and dated Philadelphia, June 15, 1846. "The Indian medals, with the head of President Polk, being nearly finished by our chief coiner, Mr. Peale, etc."
James Knox Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, November 2, 1795. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina, 1818; was admitted to the bar in Nashville, Tennessee, 1820; member of the State Legislature, 1823-1825; member of Congress, 1825-1839; speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1835-1839; governor of Tennessee, 1839-1841; President of the United States, 1845-1849. He died in Nashville, June 15, 1849.
May 8 and 9, 1846.
Major General Zachary Taylor. ℞. Resolution of Congress, July 16th, 1846, etc.