 Major General Zachary Taylor. The Louisiana Medal. J.MI.25. Silver. Choice About Uncirculated. 76.2 mm. 3,138.3 gns. (203.1 gms.). Both the obverse and reverse are lightly toned in a medium shade of coin silver gray. The fields are bright and reflective with some semi-prooflike appearance still remaining. Well struck in the centers, with all of the pelican's breast feathers clear and bold on the obverse and the serried ranks of American soldiers quite visible in the center of the reverse. Lightly lacquered long ago.
Rare: there are probably no more than 15 of these surviving. The cataloguer has records of only nine different medals including the two offered here. This specimen may have been Taylor's own medal. Mr. Ford believed this to be the case, based principally on the common source for this and Taylor's gold Monterey medal offered above. There is, unfortunately, no surviving documentation to confirm this surmise. These medals were struck by order of the State of Louisiana by H.E. Baldwin & Co. of New Orleans. The dies were designed by P.P. Duggan and executed by C.C. Wright. While they were not struck at the U.S. Mint they are listed by Julian and on that strength are so included here.
Ex Robert P. Kelly, M.D. on May 12, 1966.
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