Abraham Lincoln

The uniface plaquette bears bust of Lincoln, facing right, in circular incuse field, sun at bottom left corner, slave with chained wrist looking up from bottom right. At top, 1809 - 1865; at bottom, LINCOLN

Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about this handsome little plaquette.  Any additional information would be highly welcome.

The rectangular plaquette measures 39.1mm x 50.7mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust facing right in extremely high relief. Around, in archaic lettering, ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The reverse bears banded oak-laurel wreath surrounding inscription: INAUGURATED / PRESIDENT / OF THE / UNITED STATES / MARCH 4, 1861 / SECOND TERM / MARCH 4, 1865 / ASSASSINATED / APRIL 14, 1865.

Julian wrote about this medal:

"some numismatists, including the author of this work, consider the obverse of the Lincoln medal to be one of the finest artistic efforts ever struck at the mint."

The circular medal measures 76.8mm in diameter and was struck in copper by the U.S. Mint of Philadelphia. The medal is usually referred to as Julian PR-12.

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).

J.S. and A.B. Wyon of London were authorized to strike reductions of the medal in different sizes and metals. Variants that are known to exist include bronze pieces, silver and white metal pieces in sizes of 35mm, 16mm and 7mm. All of these are rare. These medals were not issued by the ANS, though the Society purchased 25 sets for sale to its members.

References:   ANS 1, Marqusee 353

The obverse bears bust of Lincoln, r. (no button holes on lapel). Around, SALVATOR / PATRIAE.

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 was produced by J.S. and A.B. Wyons of London.  The American Numismatic Society authorized Wyons to produce sets of reduced size medals in a variety of materials and purchased 25 sets for resale to its members. These medals were not officially issued by the ANS but they are authorized reductions of the official medal.

The following sizes and materials are known to exist: 35mm, 16mm, and 7mm in bronze, silver and white metal. While no mintages are reported, all of the variants are rare.

References:   ANS 1R

The medal's obverse bears bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Around, ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENT UNITED STATES.; signed under truncation, BARBER

The reverse bears stylized wreath with legend, MARCH 4. 1861 / TO / APRIL 15. 1865. / EMANCIPATION / PROCLAIMED / JAN. 1. 1863.; in exergue, MEDAL SERIES OF THE / U.S. MINT. / J. POLLOCK - 1871-  DIRECTOR

This handsome medal can be seen as an expression of gratitude from Mint director James Pollock to his friend Abraham Lincoln.  Not only did they serve in Congress together, but they also boarded at the same boardinghouse!  When Pollock retired from Congress, Lincoln appointed him Director of the U.S. Mint.

The circular medal measures 45mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint in the years between 1871 and 1904. A total of 363 pieces were struck in that period,155 of them in 1872 alone. The medal is usually identified as Julian CM-16.

Most of the information on this medal came from John Kraljevich's  website.

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 45.4mm and was struck in silver, bronze, gilt, copper, brass, aluminum and white metal.

References:   ANS 24, Baxter 300, Marqusee 333

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Lincoln, facing left. Around, ABRAHAM - LINCOLN; to left and right, 1809 - 1865; signed around bottom, J.E.ROINÉ COPYRIGHT (MACO mark)

The reverse bears wreath formed by laurel and oak branch. At top, LIBERATOR, in center field, · EMANCIPATION / · PROCLAMATION · / SIGNED / · JANUARY· FIRST· 1863 · / Abraham Lincoln; at bottom, 1909 / CENTENNIAL · COMMEMORATION

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1909-005

The medal's obverse bears Abraham Lincoln portrait facing right.

The reverse bears Lincoln's log cabin birth place at left and dome of Capitol building at right, sun between them.  palm frond at left, oak leaves at right. Across, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION / EMANCIPATOR OF A RACE / SAVIOR OF THE UNION / 1909; signed in tiny letters at lower left, THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.

The circular medal measures 50.9mm in diameter and was struck by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.