Medalet promoting Franklin Pierce for president, 1852. Brass. DeWitt FP 1852-3. Holed for suspension. OBV: Bust of Pierce to quarter left; around, GEN. FRANKLIN PIERCE (above); THE STATESMEN (sic) & SOLDIER (below). REV: Around, PIERCE AND KING THE PEOPLES CHOICE, enclosing displayed eagle.
After the conquest of Mexico, the land area of the United States was significantly enlarged, and with the Compromise of 1850, the Union was, for the time being anyway, preserved. At the Democratic Convention in 1852, the delegates agreed readily to a platform affirming support for the Compromise, but had a harder time agreeing on who to nominate for president. They balloted 48 times before settling on Gov. Franklin Pierce of New Hamphire, passing over numerous better known candidates.
Most observers were dubious about his chances in the general election, where he would face Winfield Scott, hero of the recent war and the Whig Party nominee. Probably because the Democrats stood more firmly for the Compromise than the Whigs, and because Scott was suspect in the South, Pierce won with a narrow margin of popular votes to become our 14th president.
We offer a choice example of this scarce medalet promoting the darkhorse Pierce.
Note: Natural patina may vary from example shown.
