The Whig campaign of 1840 against incumbent President Martin Van Buren established a pattern of predetermined imagery, from which later campaigns have seldom deviated. The Whigs adopted the symbols of the log cabin and hard cider to promote the candidacy of General William Henry Harrison. An outpouring of objects with designs of log cabins, such as this medal from the 1840 campaign, soon followed.
One (1) Horatio Gates at Saratoga medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1777
Obverse Image: Left facing portrait bust of Gates in military uniform.
Obverse Text: HORATIO / GATES / DUCI / STRENUO / COMITIA / AMERICANA / N / GATTEAUX
Reverse Image: Burgoyne presents his sword to Gates who stands bareheaded on the right, he holds in his left hand his tri-cornered hat; in the background the British army lays down their arms to the American army who stands at attention on the right behind Gates.
Reverse Text: SALUS / REGIONUM / SEPTENTRIONAL / HOSTE / AD / SRATOGAM / IN / DEDITION / ACCEPTO / DIE / XVII / OCT / MDCCLXXVII
General Information: Engraved by Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux, Paris Mint.
Party symbols drawn from the natural world helped to dramatize political issues to reach 19th century Americans, including those who could not read. The donkey (also known as a jackass) as a Democratic symbol dates back to the late 1820s, when Whig attacks against Andrew Jackson rendered his name as “A. Jack-ass.” Medals illustrated with donkeys and pigs bore slogans criticizing Jackson for removing federal deposits from the Bank of the United States.
Party symbols drawn from the natural world helped to dramatize political issues to reach 19th century Americans, including those who could not read. The donkey (also known as a jackass) as a Democratic symbol dates back to the late 1820s, when Whig attacks against Andrew Jackson rendered his name as “A. Jack-ass.” Medals illustrated with donkeys and pigs bore slogans criticizing Jackson for removing federal deposits from the Bank of the United States.
This medal from the Washington Benevolent Society likely belonged to Samuel Copp (b. 1787) around 1808. The medal has an obverse image of the allegorical figure of Lady Liberty crowing a bust of George Washington with a laurel. The reverse is engraved “Benevolence” and depicts a man reaching down to help a fallen woman. The first Washington Benevolent Society was formed July 12th in New York as a charitable organization, but soon became a group mainly focused on supporting the Federalist Party. The group disbanded around 1820.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
This Congressional Gold Medal was awarded on December 17, 1863 to General Grant after his victory at Vicksburg. The battle of Vicksburg was a turning point for the Union Army. The siege lasted six weeks until the Confederate forces surrendered on July 4, 1863.
One (1) John Stewart at Stony Point medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1789
Obverse Image: Stewart, standing left, steps forward to receive a palm branch from America, represented as a crowned, semi-nude Indian woman, she has an alligator tied beside her and grips the striped shield of America.
Obverse Text: JOANNI / STEWART / COHORTIS / PRAEFECTO / GATTEAUX / COMITIA / AMERICANA
Reverse Image: Stewart charge, sword drawn, at the fortifications against the British troops who raise their arms in surrender; behind Stewart is a row of American soldiers and their standards.
Reverse Text: STONEY - POINT / OPPUGNATUM / XV / JUL / MDCCLXXIX / GATTEAUX
General Information: Lead "splasher" (proof) for obverse die of the only American Revolution medal issue never restruck. Engraved by Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux.
One (1) John Paul Jones, Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis medal (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1779
Obverse Image: Right facing portrait of Jones in uniform (based off of Houdon's bust).
Obverse Text: JOANNI / PAVLO / JONE / CLASSIS / PRAEFECTO / COMITIA / AMERICANA / DUPRE. / F.
Reverse Image: A smoking Bonhomme Richard, holed and with broken mast, faces left in front of the foremast and bowsprit of Serapis; fighting sailors and rubbish are visible in the water and Alliance resides in the background.
One (1) George Washington Before Boston medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1790
Obverse Image: Right facing portrait bust of Washington based on Houdon's work.
Obverse Text: GEORGIO / WASHINGTON / SVPREMO / DVCI / EXERCITVVM / ADSERTORI / LIBERTATIS / COMITIA / AMERICANA / DUVIVIER / PARIS. / F.
Reverse Image: Washington on horseback speaks with four mounted officers beside several cannons from Fort Ticonderoga; in the background the Continental Army runs toward Boston and eight British ships sail in retreat.
Reverse Text: HOSTIBUS / PRIMO / FUGATIS / BOSTONIUM / RECUPERATUM / XVII / MARTII / MDCCLXXVI / DUVIV.
General Information: Engraved by Benjamin Duvivier.
One (1) Anthony Wayne at Stony Point medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France) 1880
Obverse Image: America, represented as an Indian woman, offers a laurel wreath and a crown to Wayne who humbly receives the wreath while bowing, holding a tri-cornered hat; the American shield and an alligator appear by her feet.
Obverse Text: ANTONIO WAYNE DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / GATTEAUX
Reverse Image: Stony Point fort on a high rock, eight British ships in the Hudson River, and infantry attacking in columns as a phalanx.
Reverse Text: STONEY - POINT EXPUGNATUM / XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX / GATTEAUX
General Information: Engraved by Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux.
One (1) Anthony Wayne at Stony Point medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France) 1779
Obverse Image: America, represented as an Indian woman, offers a laurel wreath and a crown to Wayne who humbly receives the wreath while bowing, holding a tri-cornered hat; the American shield and an alligator appear by her feet.
Obverse Text: ANTONIO WAYNE DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / GATTEAUX
Reverse Image: Stony Point fort on a high rock, eight British ships in the Hudson River, and infantry attacking in columns as a phalanx.
Reverse Text: STONEY - POINT EXPUGNATUM / XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX / GATTEAUX
General Information: Engraved by Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux.
One (1) Anthony Wayne at Stony Point medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France) 1779
Obverse Image: America, represented as an Indian woman, offers a laurel wreath and a crown to Wayne who humbly receives the wreath while bowing, holding a tri-cornered hat; the American shield and an alligator appear by her feet.
Obverse Text: ANTONIO WAYNE DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / GATTEAUX
Reverse Image: Stony Point fort on a high rock, eight British ships in the Hudson River, and infantry attacking in columns as a phalanx.
Reverse Text: STONEY - POINT EXPUGNATUM / XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX / GATTEAUX
General Information: Engraved by Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux, original die cast.
One (1) Lead die trial- Reverse of Diplomatic medal (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1792
Reverse Image: America, represented as a seated Indian queen, receives in her left hand a cornucopia from Mercury who stands to her right, representing Commerce; behind this scene are symbols of trade and the ocean where the bow of a ship is visible.
Reverse Text: TO PEACE AND COMMERCE / IV JUL. MDCCLXXVI.
General Information: Trial strike in lead (or perhaps a cliché) of the third reverse.
One (1) Lead die trial - Obverse of Diplomatic medal (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1790-1791
Obverse Image: The Great Seal of the United States: Eagle with wings spread holding escutcheon with vertical and horizontal stripes, holding a banner in its beak; above are thirteen six-pointed stars centered in a radiant glory; the eagle holds a palm branch in its right talon and a thirteen arrow bundle in the left.
Obverse Text: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
General Information: Trial strike in lead (or perhaps a cliché) of the second obverse.
Obverse Image: The Great Seal of the United States: Eagle with wings spread holding escutcheon with vertical and horizontal stripes, holding a banner in its beak; above are thirteen six-pointed stars centered in a radiant glory; the eagle holds a palm branch in its right talon and a thirteen arrow bundle in the left.
Obverse Text: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Reverse Image: America, represented as a seated Indian queen, receives in her left hand a cornucopia from Mercury who stands to her right, representing Commerce; behind this scene are symbols of trade and the ocean on which the bow of a ship is visible.
Reverse Text: TO PEACE AND COMMERCE / IV JUL. MDCCLXXVI / C. BARBER / DUPRE, F. / 1876
General Information: The 1792 Diplomatic Medal was recreated for America's Centennial celebration in 1876, U.S. Mint copy dies.
Description
This medal is a re-cast of the “To Peace and Commerce” Diplomatic Medal of 1792, originally commissioned by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson as a presentation gift to foreign diplomats. The medal was later recast in 1876 for the American Centennial using the original lead proof by French sculptor and engraver, Augustin Dupre. The dies for the 1876 edition were engraved by Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Charles E. Barber. The obverse of the medal features the Great Seal of the United States, and the reverse features an allegory of America rendered as a seated Native American woman taking a cornucopia from the outstretched hand of Mercury, who symbolizes trade.
One (1) Daniel Morgan at the Cowpens medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1781
Obverse Image: Morgan leads an infantry change on horseback against a retreating British cavalry; another cavalry charge is visible in the background.
Obverse Text: VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX / FVGATIS CAPTIS AVT CAESIS / AD COWPENS HOSTIBVS / XVII. JAN. MDCCLXXXI / DUPRE. INV. ET. F.
Reverse Image: America, represented as a semi-nude Indian female, places a crown of laurels on the head of Morgan who stands in uniform to her right; he bows slightly to receive his crown; behind them are two cannons, a shield, trumpet, fasces, and sundry standards to represent war.
Reverse Text: DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / DUPRE F.
General Information: Struck from the 1839 Barré dies, most probably in France as a prototype to show to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
Obverse Image: The Great Seal of the United States: Eagle with wings spread holding escutcheon with vertical and horizontal stripes, holding a banner in its beak; above are thirteen six-pointed stars centered in a radiant glory; the eagle holds a palm branch in its right talon and a thirteen arrow bundle in the left.
Obverse Text: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM
Reverse Image: America, represented as a seated Indian queen, receives in her left hand a cornucopia from Mercury who stands to her right, representing Commerce; behind this scene are symbols of trade and the ocean where the bow of a ship is visible.
Reverse Text: TO PEACE AND COMMERCE / IV JUL. MDCCLXXVI
General Information: Re-engraved by C. Barber, 1876, U.S. Mint copy dies.
One (1) Daniel Morgan at the Cowpens medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1781
Obverse Image: Morgan leads an infantry change on horseback against a retreating British cavalry; another cavalry charge is visible in the background.
Obverse Text: VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX. / FVGATIS CAPTIS AVT CAESIS / AD COWPENS HOSTIBVS / XVII. JAN. MDCCLXXXI / DUPRE. INV. ET. F.
Reverse Image: America, represented as a semi-nude Indian female places a crown of laurels on the head of Morgan who stands in uniform to her right; he bows slightly to receive his crown; behind them are two cannons, a shield, trumpet, fasces, and sundry standards to represent war.
Reverse Text: DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / DUPRE F.
General Information: Strike: trial piece - note circular scribe lines, suggesting that the die has not yet been finished.