(1840) Token WHH 1840-57 Brass Maj. Gen. W.H. Harrison Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This brass campaign token cataloged as WHH 1840-57, without a suspension hole, is the unholed variant of the same die combination used for the holed version. The absence of a hole indicates this example was retained as a pocket piece or keepsake rather than worn as a campaign badge. William Henry Harrison's 1840 campaign tokens circulated widely both as political propaganda and as de facto small change during a period when official small denomination coinage was often scarce in everyday commerce. The WHH 1840-57 variety features the standard Harrison campaign portrait with military designation "Maj. Gen. W.H. Harrison" honoring his War of 1812 service. The Whig Party deliberately emphasized Harrison's military credentials to appeal to voters who remembered Andrew Jackson's similar path from military hero to president. The brass composition gives the token a gold-like appearance that made it attractive as a pocket piece. Many Harrison campaign tokens survived in excellent condition precisely because their owners treasured them as political souvenirs rather than spending them. The DeWitt-Sullivan catalog system numbers each distinct die combination, with WHH 1840-57 falling in the upper range of the extensive Harrison series that documents the unprecedented scale of merchandising in the 1840 election.

Rarity Notes

Unholed examples of WHH 1840-57 may be scarcer than the holed version, as most were produced with holes for wearing. Brass Harrison tokens without holes are desirable to collectors seeking pristine examples.

Cross References

PCGS #617006; WHH 1840-57 (DeWitt-Sullivan); William Henry Harrison 1840 campaign