1880 James Garfield Campaign Token

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by Heavymetal, Nov 10, 2025 at 8:02 AM.

  1. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Supporter! Supporter

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  3. Mr. Numismatist

    Mr. Numismatist Strawberry Token Enthusiast

    I can't find much, but I would guess at the very least it's worth over $40.


    Edit:

    That reverse reminds me of this token/medal.

    40.png
     
  4. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    If there was a token for me to own, possibly find metal detecting :rolleyes:, it would be this one. With the hole, I can only imagine wearing this back in the times. :D
     
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  5. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    In general 1880 Garfield campaign tokens are not that rare. He ran against Civil War general Windfield Scott Hancock.

    Here is the example of the piece you posted which is in my collection.

    JG 1880-7 All.jpg

    Garfield came from humble beginnings, and he made that one of the themes of his campaign. In his youth, he worked the tow ropes on canal boats. This token made that theme more obvious. This is probably the most common Garfield campaign piece.

    JG 1880-8 All.jpg

    Garfield was shot by a crazy man a little of three months after his inauguration. His doctor was the pits. It would have been better if they had bandaged him up and left the bullet in him. He might well have survived. Instead the doctor probed for the bullet with unclean instruments and dirty fingers. Garfield died of infections his doctor gave him.

    Garfield may have been one of the brightest men every elected president. It was said that he could hold a pen in each hand and write Latin on one side and Greek on the other. It was also said that he was part of the corrupt Republican establishment of the period. This was part of Mark Twain's "gilded age."

    This piece is unusual. The wording would lead one to believe that it was issued uring the time when Garfield was fighting for his life. He was shot on July 2, 1881.

    Garfield Post Assassin All.jpg
     
  6. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Great token up there, must be a rare one! thumbsup.gif Here's one of my President tokens, not as a candidate token but still one of Grant's best tokens ever! :D

    11268873a.jpg 11268873b.jpg
     
  7. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    That is a Grant presidential campaign token. It is listed in DeWitt / Sullivan as USG 1868-30. It is rather common as political tokens go, but the slogan is neat.

    When I say "common" it is different from coins. All of these tokens are rarer that most all of the coins issued during that period, but compared to other tokens, it's common. To be "rare" you have to find something where there are 10 or fewer known.
     
  8. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Supporter! Supporter

    Maybe I should say scarce. Anybody else on CT got even one?
     
  9. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Supporter! Supporter

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  10. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    They way over paid for that piece. I’ve done it as a political items collector.
     
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  11. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Good to know! :shame:
     
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