1848 Zachary Taylor Campaign "Medal." DeWitt-ZT 1848-45. Pewter, Lithograph Paper inserts, Glass crystals. 65.1 mm. Mint State.

Color lithographs of the candidates, Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, retain excellent color and freshness while the thin glass crystals that protect them are clean and completely intact. The pewter frame is uniform light gray with only minor marks, but no oxidation or other impairments. Issued with an integral hanger, which is lost, and perhaps the reason that this piece remained so nice. We sold a virtually identical specimen in our landmark September 2013 sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection of political medals. Ford's example is the only one in our online archives. It was a bit inferior to this one, with more handling on the frame, but still realized just shy of $6500. Handsome and rare, the latter attribute likely due largely to the generally fragile nature of the medium. A prize for the collector of political pieces.