(1864) Medal DeWitt USG 1864-1 Silvered Brass U.S. Grant Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$840 MS61 04-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silvered brass campaign medal for U.S. Grant from 1864 is cataloged as DeWitt USG 1864-1, the silvered brass variant of the brass piece (PCGS #946705). The silvered finish gave this medal a more distinguished appearance suitable for officers, politicians, or affluent supporters of Grant who wanted a premium piece. Grant's military reputation in 1864 made him the most popular figure in the Northern states, and commercial medal producers responded to this popularity by creating political medals in multiple compositions and finishes. The silvered brass variant represents the middle tier between plain brass and solid silver, offering an attractive appearance at moderate cost. Grant's decisive leadership — his refusal to retreat after the Battle of the Wilderness, his relentless pressure on Lee's army, and his coordination of multiple simultaneous offensives across the Confederacy — made him a symbol of Northern determination and military competence. These qualities would translate directly into political capital when Grant entered the presidential arena in 1868. This silvered brass medal documents the origins of Grant's political career in his military celebrity.

Rarity Notes

Silvered brass campaign medal from 1864. DeWitt USG 1864-1. Premium finish variant. Scarcer than plain brass.

Cross References

PCGS #681722; DeWitt USG 1864-1 (silvered brass); 1864; U.S. Grant