(1860s) Bronze Medalet J-PR-33, Andrew Jackson

Coin Details

Description

This small bronze medalet of Andrew Jackson bears the Julian PR-33 designation and represents a miniature version of the standard presidential medal design. Medalets — medals struck in diminutive formats typically ranging from 18mm to 25mm — were produced by the U.S. Mint as affordable collector pieces that could be worn as jewelry, carried as pocket pieces, or assembled into sets at modest cost. The obverse features a reduced version of Moritz Furst's Jackson portrait, adapted for the smaller die format while retaining the essential character of the original engraving. The reverse carries a correspondingly reduced Peace and Friendship design. The 1860s attribution places this striking during the Civil War era, when the Mint produced various medalets and tokens alongside its regular coinage operations. Jackson medalets occupy an interesting niche in the presidential medal series. Their small size made them practical for everyday carry, and many surviving examples show evidence of having been worn or handled extensively. The bronze composition ensured durability while keeping the cost accessible to a broad collecting audience. The medalet format became increasingly popular during the mid-nineteenth century as numismatic collecting expanded beyond wealthy cabinet collectors to include middle-class hobbyists. Anthony C. Paquet, the Mint's assistant engraver during the 1860s, was particularly active in producing medalets in various series, and the Jackson medalet reflects this productive period in American medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce. Bronze medalets from the 1860s survive in reasonable numbers but are less common than the larger-format bronze medals. Condition varies widely, as many were carried as pocket pieces.

Cross References

Julian PR-33 (medalet format); PCGS #681715