Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

It has been in my family for a number of years. It was my granddad's. He passed it on down to his elder son. When he passed away, he gave it to my dad, and when my dad passed away, then it has come to my brother and I.

APPRAISER

Do you know anything about it?

GUEST

The only thing I did know is that it was a peace medallion from Thomas Jefferson. I had heard that the Lewis and Clark expedition took several of the peace medals along with them, and that's about all I really know of it.

APPRAISER

It's a very rare peace medal, and they were given to the Indians...

GUEST

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER

...as a token of peace. Lewis and Clark carried these with them on their expedition, which Jefferson sponsored.

GUEST

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER

It was 1803 and 1804. This was made in two pieces. I don't know whether you noticed that or not. But it's two pieces of metal that they struck then put together with this rim. And, as I say, it's a very rare medal. I've had a number of peace medals.

GUEST

Really?

APPRAISER

I've never had a Jefferson. A real Jefferson.

GUEST

Oh, my goodness.

APPRAISER

There are a number of reproductions, but this is real. I think it would be in the range of around $40,000 to $50,000.

GUEST

Oh, my God.

APPRAISER

I mean, it's a really rare piece of Americana. It's a big piece of history.

GUEST

Well, I'll be. Never thought it would be worth that much. Should I have it fixed?

APPRAISER

The rim? That was... By a professional, yeah.

GUEST

My daughter took it to school and showed it off and...

APPRAISER

Well, don't show it off, don't pass it around so much.

GUEST

(laughing) We may not do that anymore.

APPRAISER

No.