1881 Silver Medal J-PR-43, James A. Garfield

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS63 03-02-2020 Kagin's

Description

The 1881 silver medal of James A. Garfield, cataloged as Julian PR-43, is the silver version of the smaller 25mm presidential medal struck in the year of Garfield's assassination. Silver strikings of presidential medals were produced in limited quantities compared to bronze versions, and the combination of silver composition with the 25mm compact format makes this a distinctive entry in the Garfield medal series. Garfield's 199-day presidency ended tragically when he was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station by Charles Guiteau, who proclaimed "I am a Stalwart, and Arthur is now President!" The assassination shocked the nation and exposed the dangerous extremes of the patronage system. As Garfield lay dying through the summer of 1881, attended by Alexander Graham Bell who attempted to locate the bullet using an electromagnetic device, public outrage against the spoils system reached a tipping point. The silver Julian PR-43 medal in 25mm format preserves Garfield's likeness in a precious metal at a compact size suitable for personal carrying or intimate display. The 25mm diameter corresponds approximately to a quarter dollar, making it a pocket-sized memorial to the fallen president. Silver medals of this period and size occupy a collecting niche between the accessible bronze issues and the virtually unobtainable gold versions, and the Garfield silver medals carry added sentimental value as memorials to the second assassinated American president.

Rarity Notes

Silver 25mm format is scarce. Silver presidential medals were produced in limited quantities, and the smaller 25mm format further limits the available population. Desirable among collectors of assassination-era presidential medals.

Cross References

PCGS #515001; Julian PR-43