Skip to content
John Adams - Pattern Presidential Campaign or Inaugural Medal


Image Information

Type Medal
Title John Adams - Pattern Presidential Campaign or Inaugural Medal
Date 1800
Country United States
Side reverse
Composition copper
Diameter 39 mm
Weight 21.3 gm
Description Alan V. Weinberg comments: An incredible rarity, so impressive that John Ford Jr wrote an article on this very medal in an early Bowers & Merena house organ. The resemblance between the size, fabric and die style of this medal to the 1792 Birch cent is remarkable. Yet it was designed and struck by 1799-1800 Boston diesinker A. Peasley (signed on the reverse). This is apparently a pattern for a John Adams Presidential medal or a campaign medal as it announces that Adams was Vice President in 1796 (under Washington) and sought to be President in 1800. Adams became our 2nd President in 1796 and sought re-election as a Federalist in 1800. He lost to Thomas Jefferson. The only other specimen I know of is a specimen that Kagin auctioned at a San Diego ANA in 1987-88 which had 1/3rd of the planchet straight-cut off and a deep disfiguring X across the remaining obv- clearly an intentional cancellation of a medal that should never have been. Anton claims he has another which is unseen. A great rarity and ex-Maurice Gould (Boston) estate.

Related Content

Image Collection Alan V. Weinberg Collection (Early American Medals)
NNP is 100% non-profit and independent // Your feedback is essential and welcome. // Your feedback is essential and welcome.