No Date Medal James Buchanan

Coin Details

Auction Record

$299 NG0 06-02-2002 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

This undated medal of James Buchanan is a standard U.S. Mint bronze presidential medal honoring the fifteenth President (1857-1861). Buchanan is consistently ranked by historians among the worst presidents for his failure to address the secession crisis that erupted during his final months in office. When seven Southern states seceded between December 1860 and February 1861 following Abraham Lincoln's election, Buchanan declared secession illegal but also maintained that the federal government had no constitutional authority to prevent it — a position that satisfied neither side and allowed the rebellion to gain momentum unchecked. James Buchanan (1791-1868) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and career diplomat who served as congressman, senator, minister to Russia and Britain, and Secretary of State before winning the presidency in 1856 as a compromise candidate. He was the only lifelong bachelor to serve as president, with his niece Harriet Lane serving as White House hostess. His presidency was marred by the Dred Scott decision, which he privately lobbied for, the Panic of 1857, and the violence in "Bleeding Kansas" over slavery. Despite his catastrophic final months, Buchanan had a distinguished pre-presidential career and was considered one of the most experienced candidates ever to reach the presidency. The cruel irony of his tenure is that his extensive diplomatic experience did nothing to help him navigate the domestic crisis that overwhelmed his administration. The undated bronze medal captures Buchanan's features in the standard Mint format.

Rarity Notes

Standard U.S. Mint bronze presidential medal. Produced for ongoing public sale. Available in the numismatic market.

Cross References

PCGS #413585