Henry Clay medal in silver by Joseph H.Merriam (updated with tin example)

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DCW
DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 23, 2018 9:35AM in U.S. Coin Forum
Wanted to share this fairly recent acquisition to my collection of medals and tokens by Boston medalist, Joseph H. Merriam, of which Ive grown very fond of. Struck in silver, it has rich and colorful pull away toning that makes it a stand out piece in the collection. I do believe that this medal was previously unknown in silver. Undoubtedly very rare, and quite possibly unique.
Henry Clay medal in silver by Merriam. "The Eloquent Defender of National Rights" circa 1860. NGC MS65

Purchased from JK Americana. Thanks go out to 'Broadstruck' for pointing me in the right direction.

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"Coin collecting for outcasts..."

Comments

  • coinsarefun
    coinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Super nice example!!



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  • Flatwoods
    Flatwoods Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That's a pretty amazing piece. Congatulatons on aquiring it.
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations! Finding any token or medal by Joseph Merriam is tough because the mintages were so low. I can't figure out why after going to the trouble of making a good die, why he made so few pieces. It just doesn't make an sense to me.

    At any rate Merriam was a great medalist. The trouble is his output was so low that few collectors get to appreciate his work.
    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 ... ?
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations on a unique find.

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • brg5658
    brg5658 Posts: 2,408 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Fantastic token. Congrats!
    -Brandon
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  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice medal... Congratulations on a fine acquisition...Cheers, RickO
  • Jinx86
    Jinx86 Posts: 3,729 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice piece, interesting to read how many very important people in US history that he was in contact with.
  • Zoins
    Zoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Beautiful medal and a nice collection focus. Congrats image
    Private Mint News | 2010 Lincoln Reverse Finalists
  • AngryTurtle
    AngryTurtle Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭
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    Beauty! I did not realize Clay died that early, I though he made it to the Civil War era.
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>Beauty! I did not realize Clay died that early, I though he made it to the Civil War era. >>



    All of the "big three," Clay, Calhoun and Webster, were all dead by the time the Civil War started.
    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 ... ?
  • TopographicOceans
    TopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
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    Nice. Very nice/
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>All of the "big three," Clay, Calhoun and Webster, were all dead by the time the Civil War started. >>



    Really drives home how long the buildup was to the American Civil War.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • Mark
    Mark Posts: 3,644 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is extremely beautiful. Do you know any of the medal's history--that is, was it struck for a particular event or as one of a series or??
    Mark


  • SeattleSlammer
    SeattleSlammer Posts: 10,125 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>Congratulations! Finding any token or medal by Joseph Merriam is tough because the mintages were so low. I can't figure out why after going to the trouble of making a good die, why he made so few pieces. It just doesn't make an sense to me.

    At any rate Merriam was a great medalist. The trouble is his output was so low that few collectors get to appreciate his work. >>





    +1
    Great piece!
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 23, 2018 9:53AM
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    << <i>That is extremely beautiful. Do you know any of the medal's history--that is, was it struck for a particular event or as one of a series or?? >>



    Thank you. This medal was probably struck right around the time of the 1860 election or shortly before. In a time of great patriotism and nationalism (both for the Union and the confederacy) he struck a number of medals commemorating the lives of important American figures. Washington, Franklin, Webster, Clay to name a few. He did Lincoln, Stephan Douglas, and John Bell during the election. Why no Breckenridge? Perhaps it exists somewhere...
    He went on the commemorate special events of the day like the boxing match between Thomas Sayers and John Heenan, a visit from Prince Edward of Wales, and the first voyage of the Great Eastern.
    He did a few Union generals like Hooker, Kearney, and McClellan. Why no U.S. Grant? Perhaps it exists somewhere...
    He is known for many merchant tokens and storecards, too.
    But he is most famous for the celebrated "Good for a Scent" civil war token which features a dog on the obverse of a cent sized planchet, a play on words that continues to humor us 150 years later...
    Here is my example which once resided in the Steve Tanenbaum collection:


    His work typically displays a high degree of artistry, with ornate lettering and high relief sculpture.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It is unusual to see medals of that era in such high grades, let alone with such great eye-appeal!
    All glory is fleeting.
  • DUIGUY
    DUIGUY Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
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    image
    “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."



    - Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Lovely toning. Looks quite prooflike.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • Washingtoniana
    Washingtoniana Posts: 278 ✭✭✭
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    very nice medal!
  • MidLifeCrisis
    MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,617 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Excellent! image
  • nwcoast
    nwcoast Posts: 2,906 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A really stunning Medal!
    Congratulationsimage

    Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014

  • keyman64
    keyman64 Posts: 15,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cool. image
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner. :smile:
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here is an example of the Merriam's General Joseph Hooker medalet. According to the late Steve Tannenbaum there are about ten of these known, and this one is probably the lowest grade example.

    imageimage
    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 ... ?
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here is a recent pick up to accompany the silver medal in the original post. This one is not as attractive, but is nice none the less.
    Henry Clay medal in silvered white medal by Merriam:
    imageimage

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    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • Broadstruck
    Broadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>Here is a recent pick up to accompany the silver medal in the original post. This one is not as attractive, but is nice none the less.
    Henry Clay medal in silvered white medal by Merriam: >>



    Nice but doesn't look silvered just plain white metal.
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You're right , Frank. It's struck in tin, no silvering.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • Hydrant
    Hydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Beautiful piece.

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