1840 Medal WHH 1840-4 Copper, Harrison Jubilee Bunker Hill Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$456 MS64BN 11-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper campaign medal from the 1840 election is cataloged as WHH 1840-4 and features the distinctive "Harrison Jubilee Bunker Hill" theme, connecting William Henry Harrison's presidential candidacy to the Revolutionary War heritage of Bunker Hill. The Whig Party held a massive rally at the Bunker Hill monument in Boston on September 10, 1840, attended by an estimated 50,000 people — one of the largest political gatherings in American history up to that time. Daniel Webster delivered one of his most famous speeches at the event, and the "Harrison Jubilee" celebration produced a variety of medallic souvenirs including this copper piece. The Bunker Hill rally demonstrated the Whig Party's ability to organize events on a scale previously associated only with religious revivals and military musters. By linking Harrison to Bunker Hill, the campaign connected the candidate's military heritage to the nation's foundational Revolutionary struggle, indicating that voting for Harrison was an act of patriotism comparable to the sacrifices of 1775. The copper composition indicates a higher-quality production than the typical white metal campaign pieces, indicating this medal was produced as a souvenir specifically for rally attendees rather than for general distribution.

Rarity Notes

Copper campaign medal from 1840. WHH 1840-4. The Bunker Hill Harrison Jubilee of September 10, 1840 was one of the most significant political rallies of the antebellum era. Campaign medals tied to specific events are especially prized by collectors.

Cross References

PCGS #770148; WHH 1840-4; Harrison Jubilee Bunker Hill 1840; Daniel Webster speech