Abraham Lincoln
| birth | 2/12/1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky |  |
|---|---|---|
| death | 4/15/1865 in Washington | |
| parents | Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln | |
| offices | Illinois House of Representatives (1834-46), U.S. House of Representatives (1847-49), U.S. President (1860-65) |
There are many excellent books and web resources about Abraham Lincoln and I assume that most people who are interested in American art medals are somewhat educated in American History so I'll just provide a very brief biography and leave it to the interested reader to find out more about this great President.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. He grew up on the western frontier in Kentucky and Indiana. With little formal schooling he became a lawyer in Illinois, a State representative for thirteen years, and finally, in 1846, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Lincoln's opposition to the Mexican-American War was unpopular with voters and he returned to practice law in Illinois after one term. In 1854 he became a leader of the newly formed Republican Party, which had become a powerful political force over the issue of slavery. He ran for the U.S. Senate but lost the race to Douglas.
By 1860 when Lincoln ran for and won the Presidency, the United States were headed for conflict over the issue of slavery. He won the Presidency with an overwhelming majority in the northern, Abolitionist states but had virtually no support in the southern, slave-holding states. While trying to maintain the Union he was also very firm in his anti-slavery position which eventually led to seven southern states seceding and forming the Confederate States of America. The Civil War started officially with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.
Lincoln and the Union army almost lost the war early on due to catastrophic military leadership. Finally, leveraging the overwhelming economic advantage that the north enjoyed and the military leadership of General Ulysses Grant, the Union army turned the war around. By the time Lincoln had to face elections again in 1864, the Union army's military successes helped him secure his second term with a landslide majority. The Civil War ended on April 9th, 1865 with the Confederate Army's surrender at Appomatox.
In April 1865, only a month after assuming office for his second term, Lincoln was assasinated by John Wilkes Booth, a disturbed Confederate sympathizer. Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, leaving behind a grieving north.
Lincoln was a brilliant orator and is rightfully famous for many speeches that ran totally counter to generally accepted oratorial practice. He was plain-spoken when convention ran towards flowery speech, concise at a time when a good speech was measured by the number of hours it took to deliver, logical and appealing to his listeners' reason when rousing rethoric was the standard. After his death he was venerated by the Union public and by the freed slaves. Countless medals and mementos were manufactured upon his death and on the anniversaries of his birth and death.
This is the first medal issued by the American Numismatic Society.
The obverse bears bust of Lincoln, r. (no button holes on lapel). Around, SALVATOR / PATRIAE.; signed below truncation, EMIL SIGEL FECIT.
The reverse bears wreath around circumference; ribbon running through wreath with inscription PUB. BY THE / AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / AND / ARCHAEOLOGICAL / SOCIETY / NEW YORK 1866. In center field, IN / MEMORY / OF THE / LIFE ACTS AND DEATH / OF / ABRAHAM LINCOLN / BORN FEBRUARY 12. 1809. / DIED APRIL 15. 1865.
This medal, the first one to be officially issued by the ANS, almost proved financially calamitous to the young organization. The dies gave out quickly and Sigel had to create a second set. The Society put a $720 lien on the set of dies until the additional costs were completely repaid.
The circular medal measures 83mm in diameter. Mintage numbers are uncertain but believed to be between 100 and 125 pieces in bronze and 30 in white metal (tin).
This medal's obverse bears bust of younger, unbearded Lincoln right. Around, 1809 ★ ABRAHAM ★★ LINCOLN ★ 1865; signed over shoulder at left, Zearing
The reverse bears excerpts from Lincoln's second inaugural address at top and his Cooper Union address at bottom. The excerpts are: WITH / MALICE TOWARD / NONE ⚪ WITH CHARITY / FOR ALL ⚪ WITH FIRMNESS / IN THE RIGHT AS GOD / GIVES VS TO SEE THE / RIGHT LET VS STRIVE ON / (thirteen stars) / LET VS HAVE FAITH THAT / RIGHT MAKES MIGHT AND / IN THAT FAITH LET VS / TO THE END DARE TO / DO OVR DVTY AS WE / VNDERSTAND IT
The two quotations on the reverse are taken from two of Lincoln's famous speeches. The first quotation is from the end of his second inaugural address on March 4th, 1865. The second quotation is from his February 27, 1860 address at the Cooper Union in New York.
This was one of many medals created for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.
The medal measures 48mm and was struck in silver, bronze, gilt, copper, brass, aluminum and white metal.
References: King 504, Eglit 85
This medal's obverse bears portrait of Abraham Lincoln facing right. To left and right of bust, 1809 - 1909
The reverse bears small eagle about to take flight from ragged cliff with waves crashing against base; sun breaking through clouds at top left. At center left, PRESERVE PROTECT / DEFEND; signed above waves at right edge, V.D.Brenner
This beautiful medal can probably be regarded as the model from which the famous Lincoln cent was created. I have only ever seen this medal traded once and bidding on eBay was fierce.
The medal has a diameter of 62.5mm and was struck in bronze.
This uniface medal was the 24th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.
The obverse bears full-length seated portrait of Abraham Lincoln at a table, signing the Emancipation Proclamation while winged Fame is crowning him. (ANS seal) in upper left corner. Below, 1809 ABRAHAM * LINCOLN 1909; signed in upper right corner, J.E. ROINÉ SCP
The edge is marked WHITEHEAD-HOAG 50
Originally struck by Whitehead-Hoag, the Medallic Art Company of New York issued a restrike in 1959.
The rectangular medal measures 73mm x 101mm and was struck by the Whitehead-Hoag of Newark, New Jersey. The reported mintage is 2 pieces in gold, 75 in silver and 100 in bronze.
This medal's obverse bears bust of younger, unbearded Lincoln three quarters right. Around top, ABRAHAM LINCOLN ★★★ PRESIDENT ★ 1861 ★ 1865; signed over shoulder at left, H. Ryden Sc. / C.H. HANSON. MFR.
The reverse bears draped couple holding hands, seated on a cannon, male holding Union banner, bare-breasted female looking at him; in background, the Capitol building. At upper left, REUNION
After presiding over the country's dissolution into Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was also the great uniter who, together with Grant, extended very generous terms to the South and meant to welcome them back as brothers after a long and bloody war. The medal's reverse can be interpreted both as an allegory for North and South coming together, but also as a very real occurrence of young couples being reunited after being separated by battle lines.
According to the notes, this medal came from the David Dreyfuss collection - lot 5720, 1986. It measures 63mm and was struck in copper by C.H. Hanson.
References: King 783
The obverse bears conjoined busts of Eisenhower and Lincoln, left. Around, ★ REPUBLICAN CENTENNIAL ★ / 1854 - 1954; signed under truncation (GR monogram)
The reverse bears two flaming torches flanking two quotes from the two Republican Presidents and their signatures. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE / WITH CHARITY FOR ALL / WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT / AS GOD GIVES US TO SEE THE RIGHT / LET US STRIVE ON TO FINISH / THE WORK WE ARE IN / (A Lincoln signature) / IN ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH DEAL / WITH PEOPLE, BE LIBERAL, BE HUMAN. IN ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH DEAL / WITH THE PEOPLE'S MONEY OR THEIR / ECONOMY, OR THEIR FORM OF / GOVERNMENT, BE CONSERVATIVE. / (Dwight D Eisenhower's signature)
The edge is marked with MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE
The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was sturck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.