(c.1960's) Medal FH-116 Aluminum Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

This circa 1960s aluminum medal cataloged as FH-116 features Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Aluminum is an unusual composition in the Fuld-Higby series, where yellow bronze and copper were the standard metals. The use of aluminum for this Lincoln portrait medal creates a lightweight, silvery piece that stands apart from the golden-toned bronze versions. Aluminum medals have a distinctive appearance and feel — substantially lighter than their bronze counterparts at the same diameter. Lincoln is among the most depicted figures in American medallic art, and the FH-116 portrait draws from the extensive iconographic tradition that began during his presidency and expanded enormously after his assassination in 1865. The Fuld-Higby series reproduced a specific historic medal design, making this accessible aluminum version a gateway for collectors to study a Lincoln portrait type that might otherwise be encountered only in expensive original strikings. The aluminum composition indicates a special or experimental striking, as this metal was not part of the standard Fuld-Higby production program. Aluminum medals became increasingly popular in the mid-twentieth century for their novelty value and low cost, though they are more susceptible to surface marks and environmental damage than bronze or copper.

Rarity Notes

Aluminum is an atypical composition for the Fuld-Higby series, making this Lincoln medal less common than standard yellow bronze versions. Collector interest is enhanced by both the Lincoln subject and the unusual metal.

Cross References

PCGS #683559; FH-116 (Aluminum); Fuld-Higby Presidential Series