(1861) Token DeWitt AL-1860-2 White Metal Railsplitter of 1830 Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,920 MS62 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This white metal campaign token from 1861, cataloged as DeWitt AL-1860-2, features the "Railsplitter of 1830" theme and was a continuation or restrike of Lincoln's 1860 campaign material produced during the early months of his presidency. The "Railsplitter of 1830" reference specifies the year of Lincoln's rail-splitting experience as a young man in Macon County, Illinois, before his family moved to Coles County. The 1861 dating indicates this token was produced to capitalize on continued demand for Lincoln material after his inauguration, as his supporters sought keepsakes to mark the historic transition. The white metal composition was standard for affordable political tokens. Lincoln's first months in office were consumed by the secession crisis and the outbreak of war at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and political material from this period documents the rapid transition from electoral politics to armed conflict. The railsplitter imagery that had been charming campaign symbolism in 1860 took on a different resonance in 1861, when Lincoln's determination and endurance as a leader would be tested by the deadliest conflict in American history.

Rarity Notes

White metal campaign token from 1861. DeWitt AL-1860-2. Post-election production of Lincoln railsplitter material. The 1861 date makes this a Civil War-era political piece.

Cross References

PCGS #800901; DeWitt AL-1860-2; Abraham Lincoln; "Railsplitter of 1830"; 1861