1860 Medal DeWitt AL 1860-41 Silvered Brass Abraham Lincoln Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 UNC Details 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silvered brass campaign medal for Abraham Lincoln from the 1860 election is cataloged as DeWitt AL 1860-41 and features the "Railsplitter" theme. The silvered finish — a thin layer of silver applied over the brass substrate — gives this piece a more refined appearance than plain brass while remaining less expensive than solid silver. Silvered brass campaign items occupied a premium tier in the campaign material market, appealing to supporters who wanted something more impressive than base metal without the cost of precious metal. Lincoln's 1860 campaign was the most consequential presidential election in American history, as his victory precipitated the secession of eleven Southern states and the bloodiest conflict in the nation's history. Yet the campaign itself was conducted largely through surrogates and printed material, with Lincoln following the established custom of not personally campaigning. Campaign medals and tokens served as the primary material connection between the candidate and his supporters, functioning as portable campaign advertisements and expressions of political identity. The silvered brass finish of this piece would have made it one of the more eye-catching items in a Lincoln supporter's collection.

Rarity Notes

Silvered brass campaign medal from 1860. DeWitt AL 1860-41. Silvered finish is less common than plain brass or white metal. Premium campaign piece.

Cross References

PCGS #813258; DeWitt AL 1860-41 (silvered brass); 1860 Presidential Election; Abraham Lincoln