The Medals for President Van Buren were begun, and in fact completed, in anticipation of the necessary appropriation by Congress, and I would suggest to you, whether the same course would not be desirable now.
I present the following estimate, for the appropriation to be asked:
| For furnishing three head dies | $800.00 |
| For preparing, striking, ringing, etc., 60 of the largest Medals at $2.37 each | 142.20 |
| For 200 of the two smaller sizes at $1.37 each | 274.00 |
| Fine silver used for the Medals | 1,000.00 |
| Contingencies | 283.80 |
| ———— | |
| $2,500.00 |
It may perhaps be judged proper to introduce Indian Medals of President Harrison into the series.
In this case, the estimate need not be doubled, for it is not to be supposed that many more Medals would be wanted. I should suppose that an additional appropriation of $1000 would be sufficient. I may remark, however, that Washington is not in the series of Indian Medals, and that Harrison, like Washington, is in the series of those voted by Congress to our successful military commanders.
I wait your instructions, which I shall execute with great pleasure.
Very respectfully, your faithful servant,
R. M. Patterson, Director.
J. C. Spencer to R. M. Patterson.
Department of War.
Washington, Nov. 13, 1841.
To
Doctor R. M. Patterson,
Director of the Mint, Philadelphia, Penn.