(1860) Medal DeWitt WS 1852-1 White Metal Restrike Major Genl. Winfd. Scott Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This 1860 white metal medal, cataloged as DeWitt WS 1852-1, is a restrike of a Winfield Scott campaign medal originally produced for the 1852 presidential election. Scott (1786-1866), nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers" for his attention to military protocol, was the Whig Party's last presidential nominee, losing badly to Franklin Pierce in 1852. The restrike was produced circa 1860, by die sinkers capitalizing on the political nostalgia market during another contested election season. The obverse features Scott in military uniform with the rank of Major General, emphasizing his distinguished service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and numerous campaigns against Native Americans. The reverse carries the original 1852 campaign inscriptions. White metal restrikes of earlier campaign medals were common in the numismatic marketplace of the 1850s and 1860s, as collectors and political enthusiasts sought examples of historical campaign material. Scott remained a prominent public figure through the 1860 secession crisis, when his "Anaconda Plan" for blockading the Confederacy became the foundation of Union military strategy.

Rarity Notes

DeWitt WS 1852-1. White metal restrike produced circa 1860. Restrikes are less scarce than original 1852 strikings. Scott campaign material is collected within the broader Whig Party political Americana category.

Cross References

PCGS #887422; DeWitt WS 1852-1 (restrike); 1852 Presidential Election; Major General Winfield Scott