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Medal Name: Fifteenth President of the United States of America
Struck for: President James Buchanan
OBVERSE
JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1857.
Bust of President Buchanan, facing the right
REVERSE
LABOR VIRTUE HONOR.
A pioneer from the far West, his left hand on a ploughshare, explains to anIndian chief the benefits of civilization, of which he wishes him to partake.
The American flag envelops bothin its folds.
In the background is a farm-house.
BACKGROUND
James Buchanan was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1791. He was graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1809; and was admitted to the bar in Lancaster, 1812. He was a member of the State Legislature, 1814-1816; member of Congress, 1821-1831; minister to Russia, 1832-1834; United States senator, 1834-1845; secretary of State to President Polk, 1845-1849; minister to England, 1853-1856; President of the United States, 1857-1861. He died at his estate of Wheatland, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1868.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)