Rediscovered Zachary Taylor gold medal to auction

When Zachary Taylor became president in 1849, he was a genuine war hero, thanks to his exploits during the Mexican War.

The country said "thanks" three times, with Congressional Gold Medals.

The last, made from some of the first gold sent east from the California gold fields, was presented after Taylor became president, but it disappeared when Taylor died a year later. Over the years, experts doubted it would ever be seen again, and some even speculated it had been melted down.

It turned out the medal, double the size of a silver dollar, had been kept quietly by Taylor's descendants in Lousiana, until now.

From Boston.com; the medal will be sold in November by Stack's. Read more about the medal here; the scale and detail of the thing is stunning, as is the condition. There will surely be some fireworks once bidding starts -- look for the very conservative estimate to be eclipsed in short order.

Posted by David on October 21, 2006 9:48 AM