25095

Unlisted James K. Polk Shank Button Important, Possibly Unique, Unlisted James K. Polk Shank Button.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Unlisted James K. Polk Shank Button Important, Possibly Unique, Unlisted James K. Polk Shank Button.
<B>Important, Possibly Unique, Unlisted James K. Polk Shank Button.</B></I> All Polk metallic items are rare, and shank buttons are an actively collected specialty field. An item with great importance in both categories is a special offering indeed. The design of this brass-shell-type pattern is clearly after the large, familiar Polk campaign medal, listed by Sullivan as JP 1844-2. Sullivan notes that "...the dies were cut by Leonard, who produced many political pieces during the era," so quite possibly the button is from the same manufacturer as the medal. We are fairly certain that the medal was produced by Scovill Manufacturing Co., as we once saw a mint state copy of that item in their corporate collection of 19th century items they had produced. Scovill was also a prolific make of clothing buttons, so this would seem a logical fit. One of the major rarities from the <I>Joe Brown Collection.</B></I> Choice condition. Diameter 21mm.