(1864) Medal DeWitt AL-1864-8 White Metal Abr'm LincolnCampaign

Coin Details

Description

This white metal campaign medal for Abraham Lincoln from the 1864 presidential election is cataloged as DeWitt AL-1864-8. The 1864 election was conducted during the bloodiest year of the Civil War, with Grant's Overland Campaign producing staggering casualties that threatened Lincoln's re-election prospects. Lincoln faced Democrat George B. McClellan on a platform that characterized the war as a failure and called for immediate peace negotiations with the Confederacy. Lincoln's campaign produced a substantial body of medallic material including this white metal medal, though the 1864 series is generally smaller than the prolific 1860 production. The title notation "Abr'm Lincoln" represents the abbreviated form of the president's first name commonly used on campaign material of the era. Lincoln's re-election was far from certain until late summer 1864, when Sherman's capture of Atlanta on September 2 and Sheridan's victories in the Shenandoah Valley dramatically improved Northern morale and vindicated the Republican strategy of fighting to total victory. Lincoln won re-election with 212 electoral votes to McClellan's 21.

Rarity Notes

White metal campaign medal from 1864. DeWitt AL-1864-8. Lincoln 1864 campaign material is less prolific than 1860 but highly collected. Wartime production may account for lower variety count.

Cross References

PCGS #946711; DeWitt AL-1864-8; 1864 Presidential Election; Abraham Lincoln