(1882) Silver Medal J-PR-40, Lincoln-Garfield

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 MS62 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1882 Lincoln-Garfield medal in silver, cataloged as Julian PR-40, is the silver version of the dual assassination memorial linking Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James A. Garfield. Struck in 1882, one year after Garfield's death, this silver medal occupies the middle tier between the extremely rare gold version and the more common bronze issue. The silver composition gives the medal a dignified weight and luster appropriate to its somber commemorative purpose. Lincoln and Garfield shared certain biographical parallels that made their pairing on a memorial medal particularly resonant for contemporary Americans. Both were self-made men from modest backgrounds who rose through the legal profession and Republican Party politics to the presidency. Both were shot by assassins motivated by personal grievance rather than organized conspiracy — Booth by theatrical political fanaticism, Guiteau by delusional entitlement to a diplomatic appointment. Both deaths catalyzed significant national reforms: Lincoln's assassination helped ensure the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, while Garfield's led directly to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. The silver Julian PR-40 was produced in quantities larger than the gold but substantially smaller than the bronze version, placing it firmly in the collector tier of the Mint's medal hierarchy. Silver presidential medals from this era are consistently scarcer than their bronze counterparts and command significant premiums in the numismatic market.

Rarity Notes

Silver version produced in limited quantities. Considerably scarcer than the bronze counterpart but more available than the gold striking. A desirable piece for collectors of presidential medals.

Cross References

PCGS #514995; Julian PR-40