(1909) Medal Cunningham 11-950L (1057) Cast Lead Lincoln Preserver Of The Union

Coin Details

Description

This cast lead medal cataloged as Cunningham 11-950L (number 1057 in the extended sequence) bears the inscription "Lincoln Preserver of the Union" and commemorates the 1909 centennial of Lincoln's birth. The cast lead composition (designated "Pb" for plumbum) and the "(L)" suffix indicate an unusual production method — casting rather than die striking — and a base metal rarely encountered in formal medallic production. Cast lead pieces were sometimes produced as proofs or trials from molds rather than struck from hardened steel dies, giving them a softer, less sharply defined appearance than conventional strikings. The "Preserver of the Union" title was one of the most commonly applied epithets to Lincoln during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, emphasizing his role in preventing the dissolution of the United States during the Civil War. The Cunningham 11-950 die combination, appearing in the centennial section of the catalog, represents one of the many varieties produced for the 1909 celebrations.

Rarity Notes

Cast lead example, an unusual composition for Lincoln medals. The casting method and lead composition suggest a trial or specialty production. Specific survival numbers undocumented.

Cross References

PCGS #903049; Cunningham 11-950L (1057)