A Millard Filmore Indian Peace Medal
BillJones
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I received an email yesterday from the mint informing me that the James Buchanan presidential medal in silver is now available. I was going to compare that piece with the original 19th century version but then I realized that I don't have a James Buchanan piece. Getting old leaves one with some incorrect recollections
Here is an example of the next best thing. The Millard Fillmore piece was released last year. Here is an example.
An here is a 19th century strike, the original design.
This piece has an odd yellow look to it which not like the mahogany finish pieces that the mint usually issued. According to R.W. Julian who wrote "Medal of the United States Mint, The First Century 1792 - 1892," most of the Fillmore medals where made outside of the Philadelphia Mint. Julian cites the problems at the time with Franklin Peal's medal making operations at the mint which had caused a scandal.
This Andrew Johnson medal was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. It has the more commonly seen, more attractive finish.
Comments
At first blush Millard Fillmore reminds me of Spiro Agnew...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
If any photo deserves a thought bubble!
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That’s odd. Fillmore was regarded as one of the more handsome presidents. He looked “presidential.”
People like to make jokes about him because he seems to be historically inconsequential. Actually he was trying to resolve the slavery issue the best he could. The trouble is, I have come to the conclusion that the Civil War was inevitable. The South had too much capital invested in slaves and were never going to back down, at least in the foreseeable future.
Presidential medals - or coins - have never really interested me. Sure, some Lincoln cents were collected when young, and I did do a Kennedy half dollar set for a while... But have mainly been interested in the old designs. I do like the reverse of that Millard Fillmore medal. Cheers, RickO
Yes, that reverse was created to spread some government propaganda. Julian described it as a pioneer lecturing an Indian on the benefits of civilization.
You don't know what you are missing. Millard Fillmore ran for president in 1856 on the American Party, better known as "No Nothing" Party label. The "No Nothings" got that name because members were encouraged to say, "I know nothing," when asked about the party's activities.
The No Nothings disliked immigrants and pushed to give them as few civil liberties as possible. For example an immigrant had to be in the U.S. for 21 years before they could become a citizen under the No Nothing platform.
Fillmore probably did not agree with them, but it gave him a platform from which to run for president. The Whigs, his old party, was breaking up, and the new Republican Party probably didn't want him because of his support for the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850.
This piece is in rough shape, but it's hard to find. It's from the No Nothing campaign for Fillmore in 1856.
This one presented its message in a more subtle way.
@BillJones... Thanks for the interesting historical note and token pictures. I love history and have long enjoyed the historical aspect of coins. I admit I do miss some good historical issues by not pursuing political tokens. I will revisit that position. Cheers, RickO
The decrease in quality from then to now is astounding and sad. The originals have amazing detail.