(1840) Medalet WHH 1840-25 Copper Maj. Gen. W.H. Harrison Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This copper campaign medalet for Major General William Henry Harrison, cataloged as WHH 1840-25, is a small-format piece from the 1840 presidential campaign. Medalets were the predecessors of modern campaign buttons — small enough to be worn discreetly on clothing or carried in a pocket, they allowed supporters to maintain a constant physical reminder of their political allegiance. The copper composition distinguishes this piece from the more common white metal and brass varieties, and may indicate production by a die-sinker who specialized in copper work. Harrison's campaign infrastructure extended to every level of American society, from wealthy Whig donors who displayed silver and gold campaign items to common laborers who wore copper and tin medalets like this one. The medalet format was particularly popular in urban areas where supporters attended frequent campaign events and wanted a durable, portable token of their participation. The 1840 campaign's emphasis on Harrison's military title — "Maj. Gen. W.H. Harrison" — served a strategic purpose beyond simple identification: it associated the candidate with national defense and masculine authority while avoiding the policy specifics that the Whig Party could not agree upon.

Rarity Notes

Copper medalet from 1840. WHH 1840-25. Smaller format campaign pieces are less commonly preserved than full-size medals. Copper composition is less common than white metal or brass for 1840 Harrison items.

Cross References

PCGS #811748; WHH 1840-25; 1840 Presidential Election; William Henry Harrison medalet