1840 Campaign Token - Major General Harrison

[lenmac65]

Yesterday I searched a former homesite in the woods that was a tangled mess of thorny vines, fallen trees, and saplings. I managed to get a couple keepers though, including this campaign token of William Henry Harrison that was minted for the 1840 presidential election. The token is brass and was issued with a hole at the top so it could be worn. The obverse shows him in his military uniform and states “Maj Gen W.H. Harrison” along with his date of birth in 1773. The reverse shows a representation of the log cabin he was born in with the statement “The Peoples Choice in the Year 1840.” Harrison would ultimately win the election, but became gravely ill following the inauguration and died just 31 days later. I have never dug one of these tokens, and had no idea what I found at the time. I also dug an old bullet and a couple buttons, including one with an eagle on the back mark. Thanks for checking out my post and happy hunting.

 

[NHmetaldetectrelichunter]

That is a coincidence. Did yours have an eagle on it too? I think the eagle indicates it was made in the U.S., versus a crown for British made.

I should clean it off more. I did notice I live just one state above you in New Hampshire. It make sense they had the same buttons here too.