(1840) Gilt Brass Token HT-818, W.H. Harrison

Coin Details

Description

This gilt brass Harrison campaign token is part of the extensive series of 1840 presidential election pieces. The gilt finish and approximately 22mm diameter (smaller than standard cent-sized tokens) suggest this piece was designed primarily as a campaign badge rather than a circulating cent substitute, with the expectation that supporters would carry or display it as a visible sign of their political allegiance. The Whig Party's 1840 campaign was notable for its organizational sophistication. Local committees coordinated rallies, parades, and distribution of campaign materials including tokens like this one. The party established "Tippecanoe Clubs" in cities and towns across the country, creating a grassroots organizational structure that channeled popular enthusiasm into voter turnout. These clubs served as distribution points for campaign tokens and other merchandise. Harrison's appeal crossed traditional party lines, attracting not only committed Whigs but also disaffected Democrats who blamed Van Buren for the prolonged economic depression. The campaign tokens' ubiquity in commerce—circulating alongside political slogans attacking Van Buren—reinforced this appeal by associating Harrison's name with every small commercial transaction.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Gilt brass. Harrison 1840 campaign token.

Cross References

Rulau HT-818