Three 1824 Andrew Jackson Presidential Campaign Tokens.
BillJones
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When Andrew Jackson ran for the presidency the first time in 1824 he was way ahead of his three rivals (John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay) when it came to bringing his campaign to the people. In the past most of the members of the Electoral College had been picked by the state legislatures. By 1824 that had changed, and three-quarters of the members were elected by the popular vote of the people. Jackson noted that change and geared his campaign message to the voters.
Part of Jackson's strategy was to issue the first presidential campaign tokens, and they came with three different slogans. I believe that the scarcest tokens carry the slogan, "The Nation's Pride," and that is featured on my newest purchase. I have not seen very many 1824 Jackson tokens with this slogan offered for sale over the 20+ years that I have been collecting presidential campaign tokens.
Jackson's rout of the British at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815 catapulted him to national prominence. From that date forward many professional politicians feared and envied him, and loathed the day when he would enter the national political stage. Therefore it was only fitting that some of his campaign pieces would remind the voters of his hero status with the slogan "Hero of New Orleans."
Finally the most common 1824 Jackson token carried the bland slogan, "The Nation's Good." It has been my experience that this piece shows up in specialist and non-specialist dealers more often than any of the others.
In the 1824 presidential election, Jackson received more popular votes and Electoral College votes than any other candidate, but he did not get a majority of the votes in the Electoral College. Therefore under the rules set forth in the Constitution the presidential election went to the House of Representatives where each state, regardless of size, had one vote.
Henry Clay was out of the running because he had finished last in the field of four, but he became the king maker nevertheless. As Speaker of the House Clay was able to get the required votes to make John Quincy Adams president. When Adams appointed Clay to be secretary of state, which was then viewed as a stepping stone to the presidency, Jackson's supporters cried foul. The Clay appointment became known as "the corrupt bargain" in which Adams had appointed Clay to the state department in return for Clay's help in getting Adams elected president. Most historians do not think that there was a "corrupt bargain," but it made for a wonderful political slogan that would help propel Jackson into the White House in 1828.
Part of Jackson's strategy was to issue the first presidential campaign tokens, and they came with three different slogans. I believe that the scarcest tokens carry the slogan, "The Nation's Pride," and that is featured on my newest purchase. I have not seen very many 1824 Jackson tokens with this slogan offered for sale over the 20+ years that I have been collecting presidential campaign tokens.
Jackson's rout of the British at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815 catapulted him to national prominence. From that date forward many professional politicians feared and envied him, and loathed the day when he would enter the national political stage. Therefore it was only fitting that some of his campaign pieces would remind the voters of his hero status with the slogan "Hero of New Orleans."
Finally the most common 1824 Jackson token carried the bland slogan, "The Nation's Good." It has been my experience that this piece shows up in specialist and non-specialist dealers more often than any of the others.
In the 1824 presidential election, Jackson received more popular votes and Electoral College votes than any other candidate, but he did not get a majority of the votes in the Electoral College. Therefore under the rules set forth in the Constitution the presidential election went to the House of Representatives where each state, regardless of size, had one vote.
Henry Clay was out of the running because he had finished last in the field of four, but he became the king maker nevertheless. As Speaker of the House Clay was able to get the required votes to make John Quincy Adams president. When Adams appointed Clay to be secretary of state, which was then viewed as a stepping stone to the presidency, Jackson's supporters cried foul. The Clay appointment became known as "the corrupt bargain" in which Adams had appointed Clay to the state department in return for Clay's help in getting Adams elected president. Most historians do not think that there was a "corrupt bargain," but it made for a wonderful political slogan that would help propel Jackson into the White House in 1828.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
If you ever have a chance to visit him home, "The Hermitage," in Tennessee, you should go.
This was an American.
Nice coins.
Out of curiosity, roughly what kind of cost do these things bring? Are they on par with Hard Times Tokens?
<< <i>When Andrew Jackson ran for the presidency the first time in 1824 he was way ahead of his three rivals (John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay)... >>
Interesting timing. I just came from seeing Henry Clay's sarcophagus a few hours ago. It mentioned that he was a presidential candidate in 1824 and I wondered who ultimately became president that year. Now I know.
The early history of our country is full of wonderfully interesting happenings.
Many never take the time to learn about them though.
<< <i>Great post and awesome tokens!
Out of curiosity, roughly what kind of cost do these things bring? Are they on par with Hard Times Tokens? >>
There are six varieties of 1824 Andrew Jackson political tokens listed in DeWitt/Sullivan (the prime reference work). Three are "Hero of New Orleans" varieties, one bears "The Nation's Good" slogan and two read "The Nation's Pride." It has been my experience that "The Nation's Good" piece is the easiest to find although there is only one variety. I would think that you should find a nice one (Ch VF to Ch EF) for $150 or so. I've been to political button shows were the dealers very much wanted to sell one of these for whatever they could get, but most of you don't go to political button shows. The "Hero of New Orleans" pieces would sell in the $250 to $300 range. Finally the piece I recently purchased, the more common "The Nation's Pride" piece, cost me over $400 in the most recent Slater's (a division of Heritage) auction. I don't know if it was really worth that, but that reflected my bid. Like I said before I have not see this piece offered very often.
The rarer "The Nation's Pride" piece (DeWitt AJACK 1824-6) is said to have had a mintage of only 12 pieces. I saw one offered in an eBay auction several years ago where it brought something over $400. I was the underbidder. I can't put a price on this. You know how it works. If two or more guys who know what it is are bidding in an auction, the price could be through the roof. If you cherrypick it, you might get it cheap.
So far I'm concerned I'm done. I have the three slogans. I don't "micro collect" these items. The differences between the three major varieties concern the number leaves in the wreath on the reverse.