(1866) Medal King-252 Silver Lincoln-Salvator Patriae

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal cataloged as King-252 bears the Latin inscription "Salvator Patriae" (Savior of the Fatherland) in tribute to Abraham Lincoln, dating from 1866. The Salvator Patriae designation reflects how Lincoln was viewed in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War and his assassination — not merely as a president who preserved the Union, but as the savior of the republic itself. The King-252 catalog number places this within the extensive series of Lincoln memorial medals documented by Robert King. The silver composition indicates this was a premium issue, produced for collectors or as presentation pieces in the year following Lincoln's death. The Latin inscription connects Lincoln's sacrifice to the classical traditions of republican virtue and patriotic martyrdom that were deeply embedded in American civic culture. One year after the assassination, the nation was still processing its grief while simultaneously navigating the tumultuous early stages of Reconstruction. Medals like this served both as personal mourning objects and as statements of political belief about Lincoln's legacy and the meaning of the war he had prosecuted to its conclusion.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver Lincoln memorial medals from the immediate post-assassination period are less common than their white metal and copper counterparts.

Cross References

PCGS #541618; King-252; Abraham Lincoln; Salvator Patriae