A rare Lincoln political piece that was issued after his inauguration

This Lincoln medalet is listed with the 1860 campaign pieces, but it was really issued after the election and his inauguration in 1861. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861 and the firing on Fort Sumter started on April 12, 1861.

One rule of thumb is that the campaign pieces show Lincoln without a beard. He grew his iconic beard after he was elected. Legend has it that a young girl, Grace Bedell, wrote him in a letter that he would look better with it. This piece shows Lincoln with his beard which further confirms the date of issue for this item.

This piece is listed in DeWitt was Al 1861-31. Here is a Lincoln railsplitter token for the 1860 splitter which shows Lincoln clean shaven. This piece was made by the Childs token makers of Chicago. Childs made a large number of Civil War tokens.

 

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Nice! I never really considered Lincoln without a beard!

 

Nice medal! Great artist!

 

Here is Lincoln ferrotype badge, which features photographs printed on a thin piece of iron, which shows Lincoln without the beard. The reverse shows Annibal Hamlin from Maine, who was Lincoln's first vice president.

The Lincoln photo on this piece, as well as many of the other Lincoln ferrotypes was copied and cropped from the one taken of him at the Cooper Union in New York City in February 1860. Lincoln gave the speach when he was looking to get his name before the eastern voters.

 

Welcome to CT John and thanks for the great post and the history.

 

Great post. I am blessed to live near Fort Sumter and loving history through my coins have visited the old fort...... I know that in Lincoln’s time, a man was somewhat expected to have facial hair. But I have to say, Mr. Lincoln was was quite the dapper fellow without the beard!