This hardly fits my collection... But WTH!
Broadstruck
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1844 Henry Clay Campaign Medal, HC 1844-9
This scarce intriguing medal was issued by the Native American Party also known as the Native American Republican Association. It’s members were usually referred to as "Natives" a precursor to the Know Nothing Party in 1844.
They saw the U.S. flag as "Trampled Upon" and urged people to "Beware of Foreign Influence."
They supported the Whig ticket of Clay and Frelinghuysen and this medal is a product of the their platform was anti-foreign-born and anti-catholic.
They asserted that only native-born, protestant citizens were fit to run the country.
Anyone who has seen the film "Gangs of New York" is familiar with this anti-immigrant movement, which appeared in the early 1840’s and had political influence up to the Civil War when more pressing concerns pushed it from the stage.
White metal 41mm in diameter -
The obverse depicts Henry Clay standing with his right arm upraised and with his left holding a tattered U.S. flag with 13 stars.
On the reverse is a flying eagle with a scroll in its beak is surrounded by a semicircle of 7 stars.
Most surviving examples are known in VF +/- details condition and are either holed for suspension or have been plugged. This Unc example (NGC MS62PL) is one of the finest known and is fully proof-like along with being unholed.
Well there are a half a dozen Henry Clay 1840 campaign token varieties in the Hard Times Token series, but none are as graphic as this.
This scarce intriguing medal was issued by the Native American Party also known as the Native American Republican Association. It’s members were usually referred to as "Natives" a precursor to the Know Nothing Party in 1844.
They saw the U.S. flag as "Trampled Upon" and urged people to "Beware of Foreign Influence."
They supported the Whig ticket of Clay and Frelinghuysen and this medal is a product of the their platform was anti-foreign-born and anti-catholic.
They asserted that only native-born, protestant citizens were fit to run the country.
Anyone who has seen the film "Gangs of New York" is familiar with this anti-immigrant movement, which appeared in the early 1840’s and had political influence up to the Civil War when more pressing concerns pushed it from the stage.
White metal 41mm in diameter -
The obverse depicts Henry Clay standing with his right arm upraised and with his left holding a tattered U.S. flag with 13 stars.
On the reverse is a flying eagle with a scroll in its beak is surrounded by a semicircle of 7 stars.
Most surviving examples are known in VF +/- details condition and are either holed for suspension or have been plugged. This Unc example (NGC MS62PL) is one of the finest known and is fully proof-like along with being unholed.
Well there are a half a dozen Henry Clay 1840 campaign token varieties in the Hard Times Token series, but none are as graphic as this.
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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Comments
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I really don't think sentiment really applies today to most Americans. I’m not anti-immigrant; I’m anti open border. You just can’t allow everyone who wants to come into to this country to do so and start collecting benefits. That’s not fair to the people who are paying the taxes, and who should get decent government services for their money.
We are also under no obligation to take in criminals, the insane and chronically ill, and terrorists. Immigration can offer great benefits to this country, but it has to be administrated in an orderly and fair manner.
<< <i>very interesting historical piece you have there.....wasn't Clay an adversary of Patrick Henry? >>
Ahh, no
Henry Clay was a political force from around 1812 until his death in the 1850s. Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson were not bosom buddies. Patrick Henry gave the famous “Give me liberty or give me death!" speach during the American Revolutionary period and was politically active until the early 1800s.
So what's the pedigree?
<< <i>So what's the pedigree?
It also came out of a Joe Levine auction a few years ago... So I do know the pedigree
I didn't jump right on this as I researched it for 5+ weeks prior to taking the plunge since this is a new area for me.
AB
It's all Pistareen's fault
Amazing how the medal here is still relavant.
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>My whole collection is turning into a WTH collection.
It's all 's fault
I feel Pistareen might be a Wallet Whisperer
As I've noticed if I stop by his table at shows mine is already out before I reach for it!
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>That piece is FANTASTIC................I'm also beginning to think Bill Jones has one of EVERYTHING. My goodness! MJ >>
No I don't have one of everything. With coins I'm a type collector so it seems like I have one of the everything, which I almost have when it comes to U.S. coin designs. As for the political pieces I've been collecting 19th century political tokens for over 20 years, and I've got about 400 of them now. There are still a few I'd love to find.
<< <i>BillJones, Could you take a closer look at your obverse and tell me if that's a Wild Turkey or not on the left side of Henry Clay
I looked at the piece with a glass, and no, it's just a patch of weeds that resembles a wild turkey.
U.S. Type Set
Words for today as well. Funny how history repeats it self!
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC