(1865) Medal King-247 White Metal Lincoln-Broken Column Memorial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 AU58 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This white metal medal cataloged as King-247 depicts the "Broken Column" memorial motif associated with Abraham Lincoln's death. The broken column is a classical symbol of a life cut short, frequently used in funerary art and Masonic symbolism, and it became one of the most popular motifs on Lincoln mourning medals produced after the assassination of April 14, 1865. The King-247 designation places this within Robert King's authoritative catalog of Lincoln commemorative medals. White metal — a tin-based alloy — was the most common material for widely distributed memorial medals during the Civil War era, as its low cost allowed for mass production while its silvery appearance gave the pieces a dignified look appropriate for mourning. The broken column motif would have resonated deeply with mid-19th century Americans steeped in classical imagery and Masonic symbolism — Lincoln himself was not a Mason, but many of his contemporaries were, and the symbol was universally understood. This medal captures the profound national mourning that followed the first assassination of an American president.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. White metal Lincoln memorial medals are collected as a specialized series, and King-247 is an uncommon variety.

Cross References

PCGS #615245; King-247; Abraham Lincoln Memorial Medal; Broken Column motif