(1824) Gold Medal J-MI-16, Gen. Alexander Macomb

Coin Details

Auction Record

$240,000 UNC Detail 09-15-2024 Heritage Auctions

Description

The circa 1824 gold military medal cataloged as Julian MI-16 honors Major General Alexander Macomb for his defense of Plattsburgh, New York during the Battle of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814. Macomb commanded the American land forces that repelled a British invasion force advancing south from Canada along the Lake Champlain corridor, while Commodore Thomas Macdonough simultaneously destroyed the British naval squadron on the lake. The obverse features Macomb's portrait in military dress, rendered in gold. The reverse carries commemorative imagery of the Plattsburgh defense. Gold medals represent the highest tier of Congressional military honors, produced as unique or very limited presentation pieces for the honored commander. The combined land-naval victory at Plattsburgh was one of the decisive engagements of the War of 1812, as the British defeat convinced negotiators at Ghent to abandon territorial demands and accept a status quo ante bellum peace. Macomb later served as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1828 until his death in 1841, the longest tenure in that position during the nineteenth century.

Rarity Notes

Gold presentation medals are extremely rare, typically produced as unique or very limited presentation pieces. This represents one of the highest-value pieces in the Julian military medal series.

Cross References

Julian MI-16; PCGS #961412