(c.1860) Token DeWitt AL-1860-74 White Metal Lincoln-Wideawakes Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This white metal campaign token from around 1860, cataloged as DeWitt AL-1860-74, features Lincoln with the Wide-Awakes movement branding. The "Lincoln-Wideawakes" pairing on campaign material reflects the intimate connection between Lincoln's candidacy and the paramilitary marching organization that energized the 1860 Republican campaign. The Wide-Awakes served as Lincoln's most visible and enthusiastic supporters, organizing torchlight parades and rallies that drew enormous crowds and generated intense public excitement. This white metal token linking Lincoln and the Wide-Awakes would have been carried or worn by members of the movement as a dual expression of candidate support and organizational membership. The approximate dating "c.1860" indicates some uncertainty about whether this token was produced during the campaign itself or shortly afterward. The white metal composition was the most affordable option for campaign tokens, making this piece accessible to the young men who formed the Wide-Awake rank and file. The combination of Lincoln portraiture and Wide-Awake branding on a single token creates a powerful artifact linking the two most significant Republican phenomena of the 1860 election.

Rarity Notes

White metal campaign token, circa 1860. DeWitt AL-1860-74. Lincoln-Wide-Awakes combination piece. The dual branding makes this variety particularly desirable to collectors.

Cross References

PCGS #659433; DeWitt AL-1860-74 (white metal); 1860 Presidential Election; Abraham Lincoln; Wide-Awakes