A second new Lincoln medalet from the 1864 campaign

[BillJones]

 

In 1864 the tone of the tone of the presidential election campaign was decided much more somber than it had been in 1860. The nation had endured over three years of war with heavy causalities on both sides. A significant number of people in the north were calling for an end to war and an end to the killing. Lincoln was now a wartime president and frivolous images like “the rail splitter” did not seem appropriate.

 

Although calls to finish the war with a victory over the Confederacy were not rare, this is the only political medalet that does not mince words. The obverse reads, “Abr’m Lincoln a foe to traitors.” The reverse reads, “No compromise with armed rebels, may the Union flourish.”

 

This piece is also holed and made of white metal like the previous piece I posted today. It too is scarce, and is one of only handful of this variety that I have seen offered for sale.