(1840) Medal DeWitt WHH-1840-12 White Metal Holed Maj. Gen. W.H. Harrison Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This holed white metal campaign medal for Major General William Henry Harrison is cataloged as DeWitt WHH-1840-12 and represents another variety in the prolific series of Harrison 1840 campaign pieces. The "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign of 1840 fundamentally changed American presidential politics by demonstrating that image and spectacle could triumph over policy and incumbency. The Whigs learned from the Democrats' successful populist strategies and turned them against Van Buren, whom they mocked as "Martin Van Ruin" and "King Matty" — portraying the sitting president as an out-of-touch aristocrat eating from gold plates while ordinary Americans suffered through the Panic of 1837. Harrison's campaign produced an astonishing variety of medals, tokens, ribbons, flags, songbooks, and novelty items, establishing a template for American political merchandising that persists to the present day. This DeWitt WHH-1840-12 variety is one of dozens of distinct Harrison medal types from 1840, each produced by different die-sinkers across the country to meet the insatiable demand of Harrison's enthusiastic supporters. The holed condition confirms this piece was worn during the campaign.

Rarity Notes

Holed white metal campaign medal from 1840. DeWitt WHH-1840-12. Part of the extensive Harrison 1840 series. The sheer volume of 1840 campaign material makes individual varieties more available than earlier campaign medals.

Cross References

PCGS #903041; DeWitt WHH-1840-12; 1840 Presidential Election; William Henry Harrison