(1844) Medal DeWitt HC-1844-10 Copper-Ni Henry Clay-W.H. Harrison Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$720 MS64 01-12-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

This copper-nickel campaign medal pairs Henry Clay with William Henry Harrison and is cataloged as DeWitt HC-1844-10. The combination of these two Whig luminaries on a single medal from the 1844 campaign reflects the party's effort to invoke Harrison's successful 1840 campaign while promoting Clay's 1844 candidacy. Harrison had died just one month into his presidency in April 1841, and his memory remained potent among Whig voters. By pairing Clay with the martyred Harrison, the medal's producers sought to transfer Harrison's electoral magic to Clay while reminding voters of the Whig Party's legacy. The copper-nickel alloy composition is relatively uncommon for campaign medals of this period, as most were struck in brass, copper, or white metal. This alloy choice may indicate production by a die-sinker with access to the newer copper-nickel material that was becoming increasingly available in the 1840s. The DeWitt HC-1844-10 catalog number places this among the middle of the Clay 1844 series, which encompasses over three dozen distinct medal and token varieties — a testament to the extensive campaign material production of the Whig Party in its prime.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel campaign medal from 1844. DeWitt HC-1844-10. Unusual alloy for this period. The Clay-Harrison pairing is an interesting political strategy piece linking Clay to Harrison's 1840 success.

Cross References

PCGS #625075; DeWitt HC-1844-10; 1844 Presidential Election; Henry Clay; William Henry Harrison