COPPERHEADS AND THE U.S. MINT OATH OF ALLEGIANCE MEDAL

I learned of this medal during my research of the Confederate cent several years ago. In August 1866, the American Journal of Numismatics published an article that referred to the U.S. Mint as the “copper-head factory,” a reference to Northerners with Southern sympathies. Obviously, this sentiment was part of the motivation for the Oath of Allegiance and the medal.

In 1863, a token was produced that had Andrew Jackson on one side and a coiled snake or the other side. The word “Beware” is on the snake side, which is often interpreted to mean Beware of the Snake. The correct interpretation is, Beware of the Copperheads.

Although the Democratic party had broken apart in 1860, during secession Democrats in the North were generally more conciliatory toward the South than the Republicans. They called themselves Peace Democrats; their opponents called them Copperheads because some wore copper pennies as identifying badges.

The most prominent Copperhead leader was Clement L. Vallandigham, a U.S. Representative from Ohio. After leaving the House of Representatives, he was arrested on May 5, 1863, denied a writ of habeas corpus, convicted by a military tribunal and sentenced to two years in prison. All of this was for speaking out against the war. Not wishing to create a martyr, Lincoln sent Vallandigham through the lines to the Confederacy, from where he travelled by ship to Canada. After the war, he returned to Ohio and was buried in Dayton in 1871.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: THE U.S. MINT OATH OF ALLEGIANCE MEDAL (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n50a12.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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