RARE GEORGE MCCLELLAN WAR-DATE MEDALLION AND PROVENANCE
Rare George MacClellan war-date commemorative medallion, privately minted and one of 100 made only days before Lincoln sacked McClellan as General-in-Chief of the Union army on Nov. 5, 1862. The copper medallion, 1 1/4" dia., bears a high-relief bust profile of McClellan on the obverse with "MAJ. GEN. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN" in relief about the edge. The reverse bears the Latin phrase: "Nec Querere Nec Spernere Honorem" ("Neither to Seek Nor Reject Honor" with a shield, drum, quiver of arrows and Roman helmet at bottom and wheat and laurel wreaths at edges. The coin is set in an early mat beneath an initialed letter of provenance in which it was once contained. It reads: "The enclosed medal...was gotten up by Mr. Jos. M. P. Price...and other Democratric advisers of the Genl. The die was made by Lovett and was finished a few days before the Genl. was relieved as Com. in Chf. for this reason only 100 pieces were struck. Mr. Price presented this to me...few are known to be in the hands of others than those immediately interested in its getting up and only 100 pieces struck in all...it bears a very fine striking resemblance to him...". Note is worn, the medallion is fine. This medallion has been until now believed to have been made for McClellan's 1864 election campaign. It is listed in Julian PE-19, and DeWitt GMcC 1864-2 as a campaign token but this note indicates otherwise. It has variously been attributed to artists G. H. Lovett and Robert Lovell, Jr. In any case, virtually none remain obtainable.