1864 Token DeWitt GMcC 1864-18 Brass Geo. B. McClellan Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$78 UNC Details 01-21-2023 eBay

Description

This brass campaign token for George B. McClellan from the 1864 election is cataloged as DeWitt GMcC 1864-18. McClellan's Democratic campaign produced a notable body of medallic material despite the party's organizational challenges during wartime. Many Democratic campaign pieces featured McClellan in military uniform, leveraging his popularity among soldiers and veterans who had served under his command. McClellan was genuinely beloved by many troops who appreciated his attention to training, supply, and welfare — they called him "Little Mac" and cheered him enthusiastically at reviews and parades. However, Lincoln won 78 percent of the soldier vote in 1864, indicating that most servicemen preferred the commander-in-chief who would fight to victory over the general who promised peace. This brass token documents the Democratic campaign's effort to portray McClellan as a military hero while simultaneously running on a peace platform — a contradiction that ultimately undermined the campaign's coherence. The DeWitt GMcC 1864-18 designation places this among the mid-range varieties of the McClellan series.

Rarity Notes

Brass campaign token from 1864. DeWitt GMcC 1864-18. McClellan 1864 material is moderately scarce. Democratic campaign production was smaller than Republican.

Cross References

PCGS #913612; DeWitt GMcC 1864-18; 1864 Presidential Election; George B. McClellan