Kate Chase with the Conkling pin, ca. 1880s
There lies an interesting story behind this breastpin she is wearing, bestowed to her by her presumed lover Roscoe Conkling as a lover’s token.
The breastpin consists of a miniature silver sword drawn through a set of diamonds that formed the number “306.” It represents the 306 delegates at the 1880 Republican National Convention who, at Conkling’s urging, continued to support the losing effort of Ulysses S. Grant to gain the presidential nomination for a third term.
source: Wonders and Marvels, Alchetron
