Presentation medal commemorating the 36 ballots cast by the "Old Guard" for Ulysses Grant for president at the 1880 Republican National Convention, 1881. Bronze. Kershaw, St. Louis, with stated 1881 copyright. Holed for suspension. Light wear and rim abrasions at 5:30 and 10 o'clock.
Just over 300 loyalists who stuck with Grant to the end became known as "The Old Guard". In gratitude, each received as a gift from the former president this large bronze medal featuring a bust of Grant surrounded by laurels and a series of vote tallies, 36 in all, the number of ballots for Grant at the 1880 Republican National Convention. The story goes the medals were struck using metal from the last cannon fired at Appomattox! Each was personalized to one of the Old Guard. Reverse reads, "Commemorative/ Of The/36 Ballots/ Of /The Old Guard/For/Ulysses S. Grant/For President./Republican National Convention/Chicago June 1880." The name of the recipient Azariah Eldridge is engraved below.
Outstanding rarity of interest to both the Grant specialist and collectors of political medals. This example, having been holed, was likely worn by Mr. Eldridge. It shows some wear and has a dark red patina. Only a handful have ever come on the market, and this is the first we have offered in 25 years.
