(1840) Medal DeWitt WHH-1840-21 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-1840-21, a higher catalog number reflecting the extraordinary depth of the 1840 Harrison medal series. At this point in the DeWitt catalog, the varieties represent lesser-known die-sinkers and smaller production runs, making individual types potentially scarcer than the earlier-numbered pieces. The 1840 campaign introduced many lasting elements of American political culture, including the concept of the campaign "brand." Harrison's log cabin and hard cider imagery was applied consistently across all campaign materials — medals, tokens, handkerchiefs, ceramic pitchers, glass bottles, sheet music covers, and newspaper mastheads — creating a unified visual identity that modern marketing professionals would recognize as a comprehensive brand strategy. The white metal composition and holed condition of this medal indicate it was one of the humbler pieces in the Harrison material culture, intended for everyday supporters rather than wealthy patrons. Harrison's victory validated the Whig approach to mass politics, but his death on April 4, 1841 — just 31 days after his inauguration — robbed the party of its first presidential triumph and led to the accession of John Tyler, who promptly vetoed the Whig legislative program.

Rarity Notes

Holed white metal campaign medal from 1840. DeWitt WHH-1840-21. Higher DeWitt numbers in the Harrison series tend to be scarcer, representing smaller production runs by lesser-known die-sinkers.

Cross References

PCGS #889244; DeWitt WHH-1840-21; 1840 Presidential Election; William Henry Harrison