Commemorative Coins

1. Coin
1860

Coin showing Lincoln and slogan: "Abraham Lincoln Born Feb. 12. 1809" and "Republican Candidate 1860 No More Slave Territory."
The 1860 election was split over the continuation and spread of slavery into other states and territories.  This campaign coin supports the Republican platform that slavery should not spread beyond the states it was already in.  It is marked “Republican Candidate 1860 No More Slave Territory.” 

Copper. Dia3.1, D .2 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6772


2. Coin
1860

Copper coin showing Lincoln and all-seeing eye marked "Abram [sic] Lincoln 1860 Republican Candidate for President."
The Republican party had been formed in 1854 and Lincoln was only their second candidate for president.  Although Lincoln was somewhat famous before he was elected, there was some confusion about how to spell his first name—this campaign coin misspelled it.  His win made him the first Republican president.  The coin is marked “Abram [sic] Lincoln 1860 Republican Candidate for President.”

Copper. Dia 3.1, D .2 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6771

3. Coin
1860

Coin showing Lincoln as railsplitter with "The Railsplitter of the West."
Many of the nicknames and symbols that Lincoln is still known by today were developed during the 1860 election.  Lincoln’s early days as a farm laborer on his father’s farm were exploited, despite Lincoln’s intense dislike of his poor farming past.  Here he is called the “Railsplitter” for the first time in the token marked “The Railsplitter of the West.”

Copper. Dia 2.8, D .2 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6773


4. Ferrotype
1860-1861

"Donut" ferrotype of back-to-back portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin , marked "Free Soil & Free Men."
Some campaign material included not only a portrait of the candidates, but also slogans.  The slogan for Lincoln “Free Soil Free Men” and Hamlin’s “Free Speech” supported the Republican view that men should have a right to improve themselves through their own work as free men, and not compete against slave labor. 

Iron, brass. Dia 2.8, D .4 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6769

5. Ferrotype
1860-1861

Ferrotype of back-to-back portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin “Donut” ferrotypes (a photograph printed on a thin iron sheet surrounded by a thick decorative ring frame) were made for all four sets of candidates in the 1860 presidential election.  Abraham Lincoln’s running mate was Hannibal Hamlin from Maine.  They did not meet until after they had been nominated as the Republican ticket.

Iron, brass. Dia 3, D .5 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6768

6. Medal
1909-1959

Copper-coated medal of Lincoln as railsplitter marked "President of the U.S. 1861" and "The Railsplitter of 1830."

Lincoln’s homespun image as a farmer and “Railsplitter” was popular with voters even though he tried to distance himself as much as possible from his rough and humble past.  The Railsplitter image has stuck with his reputation even after his death, as this medal illustrates. It may be from a birthday celebration in 1909 or 1959.  The coin is marked “President of the U.S. 1861” and “The Railsplitter of 1830.”

Metal. Dia 4, D .2 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6770

7. Commemorative Coin
1909

The 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth in 1909 was cause for many celebrations.  This scalloped-edged medal, marked “1809-1909 LINCOLN,” was a collector’s item.

Silver. Dia 3.3, D .5 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6774

8. Ferrotype in frame with bearded Lincoln portrait
1864

A small rectangular ferrotype [photo printed on a thin iron sheet] of Lincoln was set in a decorative frame and distributed as part of his 1864 re-election campaign.  The reverse states: “Abraham Lincoln President of the United States Firm to Defend and [sus]tain the Union.”  Enlarge and include each one separately

Iron, brass, paper. H 4.3, W 3.6 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6767

9. Coin
1909
Silver coin with hanging loop of Lincoln bust and slogan "With Malice Toward None, with Charity for All" awarded for essay contest.
An essay contest was held by the New York Times newspaper as part of the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.  A lucky winner, William Eisner, was awarded this silver medal for his essay on the topic of “With Malice Toward None, With Charity for All.”
Silver. Dia 3.3, D .2 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6775