1865 Medal King-284a Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

This 1865 medal, cataloged as King-284a, is an Abraham Lincoln memorial produced after the April 14 assassination. The King catalog documents hundreds of varieties from the largest outpouring of memorial numismatics in American history to that date. Lincoln's murder transformed him from wartime president into martyr, elevating his status to near-mythological levels. Memorial medals were produced by private die-sinkers across the country with designs ranging from simple portraits to elaborate allegories. The production of commemorative medals in America spans from colonial-era pieces struck in European workshops to modern issues produced with twenty-first century digital design technology and advanced minting equipment. The survival rate of American medals varies dramatically by metal composition, production quantity, and the significance attached to specific issues, creating rarity patterns that drive collector interest and market valuations. King-284a represents one of many individual expressions of national grief captured in metallic form.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. King-284a, Lincoln memorial medal. The variety of Lincoln assassination medals makes individual varieties collectible.

Cross References

PCGS #920597; King-284a; Abraham Lincoln; Memorial Medal; 1865