Medalet Search....

[mvSWAT]

Does anyone have access to either of these catalogs so I can search an 1860 John C. Breckenridge presidential token/medalet?

American Political Badges and Medalets 1789-1892 by Edmund B. Sullivan or
Political Buttons Book III. 1789 to 1916 by Theodore C. Hake.

Thanks. Dan

 

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[PBK]

I have both. Post pics or details, and I'll be glad to check it out for you.

 

[mvSWAT]

One side says John C. Breckinridge 1860 the other still has a lot of corrosion on it and all I can make out is Jos.... (thinking it's Joseph) and 1860 at the bottom.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I copied an interesting article about Brickinridge running for president against Abraham Lincoln. Just wondering if this token/medalet has any value to it and perhaps what type of metal it is made out of. Thanks. Dan

 

[PBK]

Dan, this is what's called a ferrotype medalet. Originally, in the center there was a small ferrotype ("tintype") photo of John C. Breckenridge, the 1860 Southern Democrat presidential candidate; and on the other side, one of Joseph Lane, his VP running mate.

Here's a link to a different Breckenrdige ferro, but it should give you an idea of what yours looked like:

http://www.p4a.com/itemsummary/97653.htm

If it still had the original photos in good condition, it would probably be worth at least $500. In fact, just a few days ago, one sold for $632.50:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...=21821+breckenridge+ferrotype+political&hl=en

Unfortunately, probably 90% or more of the value is in the images, and just pasting in new ones won't change anything as far as a dealer or serious collector is concerned. Anyway, I really can't say what the "frame" alone might be worth, but if it were mine I'd consider it a heck of a find!