A Tribute to Abraham Lincoln - One Day Late

[BillJones]

February 12 was Lincoln birthday, and I missed noting it. Here are few Lincoln pieces from my collection of campaign items.

 

My best Lincoln pieces are medals and medalets from his 1860 and 1864 presidential campaigns. I have a fairly large number of pieces in my collection. Here are some of my favorites.

 

Lincoln, the Rail Splitter, from his 1860 campaign.

 

 

Lincoln's 1860 campaign called for the restriction of slavery to the states where it already existed. This 1860 medalet presents that position. The dies were made by Worcester, Massachusetts die sinker, Charles Lang.

 

 

This 1864 piece features Lincoln's nick name, "Honest Old Abe," which he acquired when he was living in Illinois. The reverse slogan, “Freedom to all men,” was non-confrontational way to call for the end of slavery. The hole is okay for pieces like this because it indicates that the medalet may have been worn during the election campaign.

 

 

This is the Lincoln - Union League medalet. The Union League was organized during the Civil War to promote the election of pro-Union candidates. Originally it supported candidates from both parties but subsequently because a staunchly Elephant Party organization.

 

 

And here is the face of the die that was used to strike the medalet I displayed above. This is only one of five original Civil War tokens dies that are know to our hobby. William Key, a well-known Philadelphia, Pennsylvania die sinker, made this tool. Key later landed a job at the Philadelphia mint.

 

 

[brg5658]

Beautiful pieces Bill. Thanks for sharing!

-Brandon

[FishyOne]

Very nice! Thank you!

 

Belated Happy Birthday Abe!