(1861) Silver Medal GW-432, Unity of Government

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,080 SP64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal cataloged as GW-432 is the premium silver version of the "Unity of Government" medal, produced circa 1861. While the bronze version (PCGS #789606) was intended for broad distribution as Civil War propaganda, the silver striking was a collector piece for numismatists who appreciated both the patriotic message and the medallic artistry. The "Unity of Government" theme was especially urgent in early 1861 as Southern states seceded and the incoming Lincoln administration struggled to hold the remaining Union together. Washington's portrait on these medals served as a reminder that the first president had fought to create a single nation and would oppose its dissolution. Silver patriotic medals from the Civil War era are significantly rarer than their base metal counterparts, as the higher cost of production limited quantities and the silver content made them targets for melting during periods of precious metal premium.

Rarity Notes

GW-432, silver. Unity of Government. Premium Civil War-era striking. Substantially rarer than the bronze version.

Cross References

PCGS #784483; GW-432; Unity of Government, silver