Medalet promoting William Henry Harrison for president, 1840. Brass. DeWitt 1840-47. Holed for suspension. OBV: Military bust of Harrison to left; inscription around, MAJ. GEN. WM. H. HARRISON / BORN FEB. 9. 1773. REV: Scale with DEMOCRATS on banner in upper pan, WHIGS in lower pan, 1840 between; inscription around, WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE AND FOUND WANTING.
The Biblical inscription on the reverse of this medalet was prophetic: Harrison routed the Democratic candidate, Martin Van Buren, in the election. In a tragic reversal, however, Harrison caught a cold while delivering his Inaugural Address, which went on for two hours in freezing temperatures. He died of pneumonia a few weeks later, the shortest tenure of any American president.
We offer a choice specimen of this early campaign piece, which turns up less often than the familiar log cabin variant.
Note: Natural patina may vary from example shown.
