Washington Medals Used by Lewis and Clark

Photo:  Library of Congress

Meriwether Lewis packed at least 89 peace medals as one type of gift to be given to Native peoples throughout the Expedition. This included three large Jefferson medals with a diameter of 105mm, 13 Jefferson medals in 76mm, 16 Jefferson medals in 55mm, and two or four medals of a different, unknown size.

But the most peace medals carried by the Corps were the 55 Washington medals, which are also referred to as the “seasonal” medals due to the different activities depicted on the set of three medallions: a man sowing wheat, a farmer guarding domestic animals, and a woman spinning cloth. These medals were created in 1798 by artist John Trumbull. Ironically, George Washington’s likeness does not appear; on the reverse side was “Second Presidency of Geo. Washington MDCCXCVI.”