N090 William Henry Harrison campaign token

US Medal-Token

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Identifier:

N090-US-Campaign Token

Type:

Token

Date:

1840

Dimensions:

Description:

William Henry Harrison Presidential Campaign token: Presidential campaign souvenirs began with brass clothing buttons during George Washington's inauguration, but really took off when Andrew Jackson began to mass-produce brass coins with his likeness on them. These coins served as a way to market a candidate to voters, like bumper stickers or yard signs today. Many of these tokens came with holes, or, like this coin, had holes drilled in them for the purpose of being worn on clothing. This token was created for William Henry Harrison’s campaign. While William Henry Harrison was the people's choice in 1840, he didn't stay that way for long. Within his first month in office, President Harrison caught a cold that developed into pneumonia. He became the first President to die in office and his death began the decline of the Whig Party in the public sphere.
Antebellum

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