(c.1886) Silver Medal J-PR-12, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal cataloged as Julian PR-12 features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln produced circa 1886, approximately two decades after his assassination. The PR-12 designation identifies a distinct entry in the Julian catalog separate from the earlier wartime and immediate post-assassination Lincoln medals, representing a later phase of the Mint's Lincoln commemorative program. The circa 1886 date indicates this medal was produced during the Chester Arthur or Grover Cleveland administration, a period when Lincoln's historical reputation was undergoing significant evolution. The immediate grief and martyrdom narrative of the 1860s was being replaced by a more nuanced assessment of Lincoln's presidency and legacy, while his status as the Great Emancipator was being firmly established in American historical memory. The silver composition marks this as a premium striking intended for collectors of means. By the 1880s, Lincoln had become one of the most popular subjects in American medallic art, rivaling Washington in the volume and variety of medals bearing his portrait. The Julian PR-12 represents the Mint's continued engagement with Lincoln's image well after the initial wave of memorial medals. The approximately 1886 dating may also connect this medal to significant Lincoln-related events or anniversaries that prompted new medal production, as the Mint frequently timed medal releases to coincide with historical commemorations that generated public interest and collector demand.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Silver examples from the 1880s are uncommon. The Julian PR-12 is less well-known than the wartime Lincoln medals but significant to specialists in presidential medal varieties.

Cross References

Julian PR-12 (Silver); NGC #951509; PCGS #973268