(1864) Silver Medal J-PR-35, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,560 PR35 08-25-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal cataloged as Julian PR-35 was struck in 1864 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln's reelection campaign. The medal is commonly known as the "Crisis Demands" medal, referencing the inscription AN HONEST MAN / THE CRISIS / DEMANDS / HIS RE-ELECTION that appears on the piece. Designed and engraved by Anthony C. Paquet, the Mint's skilled assistant engraver, the medal measures approximately 18mm and served as both a political statement and a numismatic collectible. The obverse features Paquet's portrait of Lincoln, capturing the sixteenth president during the intense wartime period that had visibly aged him. The inscription makes an explicit argument for Lincoln's reelection in the pivotal 1864 election — one of the few U.S. Mint medals to take such a directly political position. Lincoln's victory over Democrat George B. McClellan in November 1864 ensured the prosecution of the war to Union victory and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. The silver composition of this medalet indicates a premium variant, as most examples of the Crisis Demands design were produced in copper or bronze. Silver strikings were produced in smaller quantities and are consequently scarcer than their base metal counterparts. The Julian PR-35 occupies a unique position in the presidential medal series as one of the few pieces that is explicitly partisan in its messaging. Most presidential medals maintain a dignified, non-political tone, making the Crisis Demands medal's direct advocacy for Lincoln's reelection a notable departure from convention.

Rarity Notes

Scarce in silver. Silver strikings were produced in limited quantities compared to copper and bronze versions. The political nature and Civil War-era provenance add collector interest beyond the metal's intrinsic value.

Cross References

Julian PR-35; Paquet-designed Civil War medalet series