#1 1828-5 Andrew Jackson (copper; 37 mm)

This is my #1 medal for a couple of reasons. Joe Levine stated in connection with the Charlie McSorley auctions that large size Jackson medals were unknown in copper. Here is one. This is an extreme rarity even in white metal and usually found in miserable condition. Joe Levine stated in his discription of the McSorley example (very fine white metal example with dark corrosion) that he could find but one possible appearance in the 19th Century sales he surveyed and was not aware of any other appearance of this medal and does now know of any other examples. Finally, it is a large size Jackson portrait campaign medal.

#2 1828-9 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 38 mm).

Large size Jackson portrait medal. The McSorley auction had a poor example of this medal -- Joe Levine commented that sometimes you need to accept poor condition to obtain a rarity. You don't need to make any excuses with this medal and it most likely is the finest known example of this "excessive" rarity.

#3 1832-1 Henry Clay (silver; 40 mm)

Probably the first known american political campaign medal struck in silver. No other examples are known to have been sold in the past 150 years, although this medal was known in silver to Satterlee in 1862. Levine comments in his auction catalog that silver political medals from the 1830s are almost unheard of. Classic design and great condition.

#4 1828-1 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 46 mm)

First medal to refer to a "candidate" for President. First example of matching medals issued for competing candidates. Levine comments that while all Jackson 1828 medals are rare, the #1 piece is among the rarest (although a few have appeared in the past decade). Large size and rare Jackson medal in outstanding condition.

#5 1828-7 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 38 mm)

One of my favorate medals from a style and design standpoint. Emphasizes Jackson's military success. Rare large size Jackson medal in great condition.

#6 1828-1 John Quincy Adams (white medal; 46 mm)

Same as those for the Jackson mate at #7. The Jackson and JQA medals seem equally rare. Outstanding condition for one of these medals.

#7 1844-1 James Polk (white metal; 45 mm)

First jugate political meda (i.e., medal including the Vice Presidential candidate). Large size medal for a difficult and desirable candidate in great condition.

#8 1840-1 William Henry Harrison (white metal; 45 mm)

Another one of my favorable designs and the first clever design in political medals - conveys both a message that Harrision grew up from humble origins and that Harrison's log cabin will be available for rent when he moves int the White House - what more can you ask for in a political medal? Rare and great condition.

#9 1828-6 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 38 mm)

Large size Andrew Jackson portrait medal. Rare and desirable. Top tier condition for these medals. Medal emphasizes Jackson's military success and an early example of how political medals would be used to project campaign themes.

#10 1860-2 Abraham Lincoln (white medal; 41 mm)

Because it's Lincoln, its his largest size medal for the pivital 1860 campaign, and scarce original strike medal in great condition. Great reverse image of Lincoln as the rail splitter. The outstanding group of Lincoln 1860 campaign medals deserve recognition in the top 10.

#11 1856-2 James Buchanan (copper; 47 mm)

Example of a rebus medal where the buck and the cannon take the place of Buchanan. This is a popular medal due to its size and design.

#12 1844-3 James Polk (silver; 39 mm)

Dies by Robert Lovett from New York. This medal is rare in white metal and otherwise unknown in silver. Polk is a desirable candidate.

#13 1828-2 John Quincy Adams (white metal; 39 mm)

Rare medal usually found in poor condition. One of two JQA political medals.

#14 1860-6 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 40 mm)

Example of a silver Lincoln medal from the Zabriskie sale. These Lincoln medals just don't show up in silver. Nice toned condition.

#15 1840-5 Martin Van Buren (white metal; 37 mm)

Classic Van Buren design with great reverse eagle. Rare medal in excellent condition.

#16 1844-4 Henry Clay (silver; 42 mm)

A large Henry Clay silver medal in outstanding condition. I haven't seen this medal sell in silver before and it is rare in other metals.

#17 1840-21 William Henry Harrison (white metal; 38 mm)

The 1840 campaign between William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren represents a high point of classical 19th century campaign medal design. The Harrison medals concentrate on the log cabin motif, representing Harrison as a country man (in contrast to Martin Van Buren) while the Van Buren medals have several interesting reverses, several of which are included among the top 100 medals. The only campaign close to the 1840 contest in terms of an outpouring of medals in a variety of sizes and designs is the 1860 campaign involving Lincoln and three other candidates.

#18 1844-2 James Polk (white metal; 41 mm)

This medal is in great condition. Polk is a desirable candidate. Difficult medal to find.

#19 1836-1 Martin Van Buren (white metal; 38 mm)

Classic medal from the "archaic" classicial period of political medals.

#20 1840-5 William Henry Harrison (white metal: 40 mm)

One of the more difficult to find Harrison medals with an unusual portrait and better than average reverse. One of the classic medals of the early campaigns.

#21 1840-3 Martin Van Buren (white metal; 36 mm)

Very scarce medal and another classic Van Buren design.

#22 1860-3 John Breckinridge (bi-metallic; 25 mm)

Difficult to obtain and desirable in any metal, almost unseen in the bimetallic format.

#23 1832-3 Henry Clay (white metal 33 mm)

Extremely rare Clay medal not previously seen for sale in any published auction or sale.

#24 1832-2 Henry Clay (brozed white metal; 39 mm)

Very rare Clay medal in great condition for the piece.

#25 1840-2 Martin Van Buren (white metal; 38 mm)

Great condition and design for the classic Martin Van Buren medal.

#26 1832-1 Andrew Jackson (copper; 28 mm)

Rarity in the Hard Times token field. Good reverse design with reference to the despised United States Bank.

#27 1864-1 Abraham Lincoln (white metal; 42 mm)

Great jugate Lincoln medal. Not as rare as some medals and often found in good condition, but Lincoln is always desirable and this is the only 1864 jugate medal.

#28 1860-28 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 34 mm)

These Zabriskie sale medals are rare in any metal but very rare in silver. As David Frent says, Lincoln is Lincoln.

#29 1828-2 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 38 mm)

Difficult to find in OK condition and considered rare.

#30 1860-31 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 31 mm)

Yet another silver jugate Lincoln medal from the Zabriskie sale. Perfect condition.

#31 1860-3 John Breckinridge (silver; 25 mm)

All Breckinridge medals are desirable and few are found in silver.

#32 1860-37 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 31 mm)

Another medal from the Zabriskie sale. Listed as very rare in silver. Good campaign design.

#33 1860-29 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 31 mm)

Another silver medal from the Zabriskie collection. I haven't seen another in silver.

#34 1828-3 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 38 mm)

Another example of a rare and desirable large-size Jackson portrait medal. This medal has an interesting reverse and is difficult to find in nice condition.

#35 1860-25 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 35 mm)

Another piece from the Zabriskie sale. Very rare in silver and good reverse design with rail splitter motif.

#36 1844-24 Henry Clay (bronzed white metal; 31)

Another extremely difficult Clay metal. Great inscriptions with "THE ASHLAND FARMER" and "THE SAME OLD COON".

#37 1844-22 Henry Clay (white meta; 33 mm)

Very difficult Clay medal to find. In connection with auctioning McSorley's inferior example, Levine commented that the is a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

#38 1872-2 Horace Greeley (silver; 31 mm)

Greeley is a favorate of collectors. This metal in silver is very difficult to find. Great condition.

#39 1848-8 Zachary Taylor (white metal; 39 mm)

These nice Taylor medals just don't show up in the marketplace. Great condition.

#40 1860-3 John Breckinridge (bi-metallic; 25 mm)

One of two bi-metallic Breckinridge medals that made the Top 100. These are great medals and you just don't see them in the hobby.

#41 1868-1 Ulysses Grant (copper; 60 mm)

The #1 Grant medal on the left is considered extremely rare. The #2 version on the right is common. Both are nice designs.

#42 1840-90 William Henry Harrison (white metal; 41 mm)

Considered to be one of the great rarities among Harrison medals. This example is in great condition.

#43 1844-1 Henry Clay (white metal; 50 mm)

Original white metal strike in great condition. One of the larger size political medals.

#44 1856-1 James Buchanon (gilted white metal; 60 mm)

Popular #1 medal in nice condition.

#45 1840-22 William Henry Harrison (white metal; 38 mm)

Probably the rarest Harrison medal. Here is an example where rarity trumps condition in the top 100 medals pecking order.

#46 1872-9 Horace Greeley (silvered brass; 24 mm)

Joe Levine refers to this medal as one of the two keys among the Greeley medals and seldom seen.

#47 1860 White House tokens

Examples for each of the four 1860 candidates, including silver, white metal, brass and copper examples.

#48 1864-5 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 32 mm)

Yes, another silver Lincoln medal. How many have you seen lately?

#49 1848-1 Lewis Cass (white metal; 41 mm)

Original strike examples are difficult to find and this is a class #1 medal.

#50 1876-5, 6 & 7 Samuel Tilden (silver; 31 mm)

Great set of satirical tokens. Rare in silver. From the Zabriskie sale.

#51 1864-13 George McClellan (silver; 32 mm)

Why: This McCellan medal is difficult to find generally and very rare in silver. Nice design and condition.

#52 1860-32 Abraham Lincoln (silvered white metal; 34 mm)

Not as rare as many of the medals, but one of my favorable designs.

#53 1888-102 Benjamin Harrison (silver; 32 mm)

Great design drawing upon the 1840 campaign and unlisted (and unknown?) in silver.

#54 1828-10 Andrew Jackson (white metal; 36 mm)

Not quite as rare as most o the 1828 Jackson medals but a nice design.

#55 1860-70 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 22 mm)

Rarity in silver with interesting obverse design. Lincoln

#56 1888-1 A.J. Streeter (nickel)

Nice rare jugate for the 1888 labor party candidate.

#57 1856-1 John Fremont (copper; 60 mm)

Great #1 medal for this candidate. From the McSorley collection.

#58 1840-1 Martin Van Buren (white metal; 38 mm)

Classic design and scarce medal.

#59 1864-19 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 28 mm)

Another silver medal from the Zabriskie sale.

#60 1864-8 George McClellan (silver; 34 mm)

From the McSorley collection. Haven't seen it elsewhere in silver. Great design. Great condition.

#61 1864-2 John Fremont (silver; 35 mm)

Great design and difficult to find in silver.

#62 1880-4 James Garfield (copper; 32 mm)

Good design, great condition and a difficult medal to find.

#63 1864-34 Abraham Lincoln (white metal; 25 mm)

Probably the rarest of this series of Lincoln Civil War related medals

#64 1856-1 Millard Fillmore (copper; 39 mm)

This copper version is probably the best Fillmore medal, or at leat a close second to 1856-6.

#65 1866-1 Andrew Johnson (silver; 33 mm)

The Johnson #1 medal is difficult to source and rare in silver.

#66 1864-6 George McClellan (silver; 34 mm)

Beautiful reverse design. Nice condition and very difficult to find in silver.

#67 1864-7 George McClellan (silver; 34 mm)

Nice design and condition. Very difficult to find in silver.

#68 1848-4 Lewis Cass (copper; 33 mm)

There are limited items available for Cass' campaign. This medal has always been a favorite of mine.

#69 1868-7 Ulysses Grant (silver; 34 mm)

Classic Grant medal and in silver. DeWitt reported that only six of these medals were struck in silver.

#70 1880 James Garfield (gold)

Gold was rarely used at the metal for political medals. These small tokens are rarely seen.

#71 1856 John Freemont (brass)

Same image on both sides of this unlisted item.

#72 1844-15 Henry Clay (white metal; 38 mm)

Another great Native American Party medal in outstanding condition.

#73 1888 Clinton Fisk (copper)

Unlisted jugate for an impotant 1888 election third party candidate in outstanding condition.

#74 1864-33 Abraham Lincoln (copper; 25 mm)

Part of a popular series of Lincoln Civil War patriotic medals.

#75 1864-32 Abraham Lincoln (copper; 25 mm)

Another from a popular group of Lincoln Civil War/campaign medals.

#76 1860-1 Stephen Douglas (copper; 40 mm)

A nice #1 medal from a design and condition standpoint.

#77 1868-5 Horatio Seymour (copper; 32 mm)

Example from the McSorley collection. Infamous "White Men to Govern" legend.

#78 1844-9 Henry Clay (white metal; 40 mm)

Classic Native American Party metal. Great condition.

#79 1860-1 John Bell (silver; 38 mm)

I don't see these True medals in silver very often. This is the #1 Bell medal in Sullivan which adds to its appea.

#80 1832-2 Andrew Jackson (silvered brass; 28 mm)

Another Jackson Hard Times Token. Good early medal.

#81 1836-1 Henry Clay (white metal; 36 mm)

Nice design and condition.

#82 1872-5 Horace Greeley (silver; 28 mm)

Greeley is popular and his medals in silver are very difficult to find.

#83 1844-42 Henry Clay (white metal; 21 mm)

This medal makes the top 100 due to its rarity (with the coon instead of the anchor) and condition. The McSorley auction had an example in poor condition. Not listed in Satterlee in this die combnation.

#84 1836-1 William Henry Harrision (silver; 30 mm)

Widely circulated medal but difficult to find in silver.

#85 1848-2 Zachary Taylor (copper; 41 mm)

This is a difficult medal to find.

#86 1876-3 Samuel Tilden (silver; 31 mm)

Difficult medal to find in any metal and nearly impossible in silver.

#87 1860-10 Abraham Lincoln (white metal; 38 mm)

Nice example of a popular Lincoln medal

#88 1872-8 Horace Greeley (brass; 24 mm)

This medal is difficult to find and Greeley is a good candidate.

#89 1844-5 James Polk (white metal; 27 mm)

Rare medal almost always found in mediocre condition.

#90 1860-12 Abraham Lincoln (white metal; 38 mm)

Another good Lincoln medal. Lincoln has the most representatives in the Top 100, although Jackson has the most in the Top 20.

#91 1860-5 Stephen Douglas (white metal; 36 mm)

Nice medal in good condition. Doesn't turn up too often

#92 1860-51 Abraham Lincoln (silver; 27 mm)

The Top 100 gets crowded towards the bottom end, but this medal merits inclusion.

#93 1892-12 Grover Cleveland (silver; 31 mm

Nice late silver campaign medal.

#94 1856-2 John Fremont (copper; 43 mm)

Great graphics on reverse. Good condition

#95 1864-3 John Freemont (copper; 35 mm)

With "Elect Me President" on the reverse, this medal has one of the more straightforward campaign pitches. Difficult to find.

#96 1852-1 Winfield Scott (white metal; 41 mm)

This medal is very difficult to locate in good condition for an original strike as the metal used was poor and susceptable to white metal desease. This is the best example I have seen and a desirable #1 medal.

#97 1848-5 Lewis Cass (brass; 29 mm)

Great condition and good candidate.

#98 1868-23 Ulysses Grant (silver; 28 mm)

Nice silver jugate grant medal. Difficult to find in silver.

#99 1876-1 Samuel Tilden (nickel plated; 31 mm)

Nice #1 medal.

#100 1884 Grover Cleveland (white metal)

Nice unlisted medal.