102838 | UNITED STATES & MEXICO. Major General Zachary Taylor bronze Medal.

102838  |  UNITED STATES & MEXICO. Major General Zachary Taylor bronze Medal. Issued mid-late 20th century in commemoration of the general and the Battle of Buena Vista (89mm, 380.2 g, 12h). By C. C. Wright.

 

MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR / RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS: MAY 9. 1848., bust right within wreath of oak and laurel branches // BUENA VISTA FEB. 22. & 23. 1847., intense and extremely intricate battle scene between the forces of Mexico and the United States; all within border composed of two rattlesnakes; wreath of cacti and oak branches below (though the oak branch is identified only by the presence of acorns, as the leaves do not match that of an oak, and more closely resemble olive leaves). Edge: Plain.

 

Julian MI-24b. Choice Mint State. Glossy brown surfaces, with a majestic overall appearance; only a very slight bruise upon one of the laurel leaves on the obverse prevents what would otherwise be a gem designation.

 

Incredibly impressive and majestic, it is easy to see why this type is generally regarded as one of the most alluring medals in the country's history. Designed by Charles Cushing Wright, it was enacted by Congress in May 1848, with Wright ultimately finishing the dies in June 1849. Aspects such as the veins upon the forehead of the soon-to-be president and the seemingly unending throng of soldiers upon the reverse draws immediate comparisons of this type with Pistrucci's stunning classic, the Great Waterloo medal—begun some decades prior, but completed nearly a decade after this piece.

 

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Upload: 1 July 2024.