(1860) Token DeWitt AL-1860-38 White Metal No More Slave Territory Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This 1860 white metal campaign token, cataloged as DeWitt AL-1860-38, is the tin-alloy striking of the "No More Slave Territory" Lincoln campaign piece. The white metal composition made this variant more affordable for mass distribution than the copper version (PCGS #659415), allowing the powerful anti-slavery message to reach the broadest possible audience of Republican supporters. The same dies produced both the copper and white metal versions, with the composition choice determined by the intended distribution method and price point. White metal tokens were often distributed free at campaign rallies and political meetings, while copper versions might be sold for a small sum. The "No More Slave Territory" slogan resonated deeply with northern voters who feared the "Slave Power Conspiracy" — the belief that southern slaveholders were manipulating federal policy to expand their institution westward. Lincoln himself consistently framed his opposition to slavery expansion in moral terms, declaring in his 1858 debates with Douglas that "a house divided against itself cannot stand."

Rarity Notes

DeWitt AL-1860-38 in white metal. Companion to the copper striking (PCGS #659415). White metal examples are more commonly encountered but often in lower condition due to the soft alloy.

Cross References

PCGS #674622; DeWitt AL-1860-38 (WM); 1860 Presidential Election; companion to PCGS #659415 (Cu)