No Date Medal Betts-160 Silver Louis XV Indian Peace AU50 PCGS. 55.5 mm, 69.1 g. Blue-steel surfaces are illuminated ...
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Consign your material to be auctioned alongside these items on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Consignment Deadline for this auction is Monday, December 1, 2025.
Description
Betts-160 Silver Louis XV Indian Peace Medal
First Indian Peace Medal by a European Power
AU50, Finest Known
No Date Medal Betts-160 Silver Louis XV Indian Peace AU50
PCGS. 55.5 mm, 69.1 g. Blue-steel surfaces are illuminated on
the obverse with mustard and faint sage highlights. The reverse
complements these hues with rose-steel and a few regions of
light-silver. Light abrasions are confined to the reverse. Unlike
the other examples known of this medal, the present offering
reveals no evidence of its original Paris Mint hangar. However, it
displays a brighter area at 12:00 on the obverse rim that could be
the remnant of a prior hangar, although this same disturbance
appears on the Gilcrease Museum example, which still has its
hangar.This French Louis XV Honos et Virtus medal appears to be the very first Indian Peace medal designed and distributed "officially" by a European colonial nation specifically for use with the First Nations in the New World. While the use of medals with the Native Americans began in 1642 with the Calverts in the Maryland province, this is still one of the very earliest medals used with the Indians in North America. The distribution began in New France as early as the mid 1720's when Du Vivier first designed the obverse bust of Louis XV, and continued to be used with the same profile of a young Louis XV into the 1760's during the French and Indian War. The French Honos et Virtus medal were struck in silver and were larger in diameter than the competing cast George II medals of this later era, demonstrating the greater importance placed on native relations by the French when compared to the British at the time.
The obverse shows a bust of King Louis XV facing right, draped and laureated, with Du Vivier's signature nestled between the drapery at the bottom (though some have attributed it to Jean Le Blanc, as it unquestionably matches Le Blanc's style). The legend, LUDOVICUS XV. REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS, translates to "Louis XV, the Most Christian King." The reverse depicts two warriors reaching out and clasping hands. The man on the right represents France and the other represents the Indian allies of France. The legend, HONOS ET VIRTUS, translates to, "Honor and Valor."
Several hundred documented requests were made for both this version, which is found in a tight range of 55 to 56mm in diameter, but with a weight varying from 67 to 100 grams, as well as a smaller type. However, many of these were doubtlessly exchanged for British medals, particularly after The Conquest in 1760, as none of the smaller size and only 11 of the present size are currently traced today, of which 8 are impounded in museums (these totals do not include three untraced examples). Of the just three examples available to collectors, this is the finest, as well as the finest known overall. Here is an abridged condition census, adapted from Stack's Bowers' 2023 sale of the Sydney F. Martin collection, as well as our own sale of the John W. Adams collection in 2014:
Roster of Betts-160 French Honos et Virtus Indian Peace Medals
1. PCGS AU-50, no hangar or signs of mounting. 55.5 mm, 69.1 g. The Garrett Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1981), lot 1949; John J. Ford; John W. Adams (2009); The John W. Adams Collection (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 3050. The present example.
2. VF with hanger. 55.0 mm, 94.2 g. Charles P. Senter Sale (American Art Association, 10/27/1933), lot 30; Gilcrease Museum. Illustrated in the Gilcrease book, p. 35.
3. VF with hanger. Public Archives of Canada. Illustrated in Clash of Empires, p. 17 and Covenant Chain, p. 26.
4. VF with hangar. 55.9 mm, 98.8 g. eBay (11/2011); Michael Oppenheim Collection; Warren Baker (1/2016); Sydney F. Martin Collection (Stack's Bowers, 11/2023), lot 1003.
5. VF with unusual in-line hanger. 56.0 mm, 67.0 g. Douglas Ferguson Collection; Glenbow Museum.
Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 615560)
Auction Info
2026 January 14 - 18 FUN US Coins Signature® Auction #1390 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
December
26th
Friday
Auction Dates
January
14th-18th
Wednesday-Sunday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
51 Days
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Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
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