(1856) Medal DeWitt MF-1856-3 White Metal Millard Fillmore Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This 1856 white metal campaign medal, cataloged as DeWitt MF-1856-3, is the tin-alloy striking of the same dies used for the copper version (PCGS #929377). Produced for Millard Fillmore's American Party presidential campaign, the white metal composition made this piece more affordable for mass distribution among party supporters. The obverse and reverse dies are identical to the copper striking, featuring Fillmore's portrait and American Party campaign imagery. White metal tokens were typically cast or struck in softer alloys that allowed for sharper initial detail but were more susceptible to wear and environmental damage than copper or brass. Many surviving white metal political tokens show surface porosity, bending, or corrosion consistent with their base-metal composition and the rough handling they received as political badges. The MF-1856-3 design represents one of at least six distinct Fillmore varieties documented in the DeWitt catalog for the 1856 election, reflecting the organizational effort the American Party invested in campaign material production despite the party's ultimate electoral failure.

Rarity Notes

DeWitt MF-1856-3 in white metal. More commonly encountered than the copper version. White metal examples often show condition issues from the soft alloy composition. Part of the Fillmore 1856 campaign token series.

Cross References

PCGS #929373; DeWitt MF-1856-3; 1856 Presidential Election; companion to PCGS #929377 (Cu)