"1865" Medal Julian PR-12 King-518 Abraham Lincolin

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,680 MS65 11-09-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This medal is cataloged as Julian PR-12 and King-518, commemorating President Abraham Lincoln with the date 1865, the year of his assassination on April 14 at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln memorial medals form one of the most extensive series in American numismatics, as the martyred president was honored on hundreds of medallic issues produced in the months and years following his death. The Julian PR-12 designation places this within the presidential medal series documented in Robert Julian's comprehensive catalog of U.S. Mint and related medals, while the King-518 number refers to Robert King's specialized catalog of Lincoln memorial medals. The proliferation of Lincoln mourning medals in 1865 and beyond reflected the profound national grief that followed the assassination — the first killing of an American president. Die sinkers and medal producers on both sides of the Atlantic rushed to create commemorative pieces, resulting in a rich and varied medallic record of the nation's loss. This medal contributes to that extensive documentary tradition.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Lincoln memorial medals vary widely in rarity by specific type, but Julian PR-12 / King-518 examples are uncommon in collector channels.

Cross References

PCGS #814250; Julian PR-12; King-518