Lincoln, Abraham Público Deposited
Born (in a log cabin) near Hodgenville, Hardin County, Kentucky. In 1831 he settled at New Salem, Illinois, and managed a mill. His free time was spent studying the law.
In 1832 Lincoln enlisted in the military to defend against Indian attacks during the Black Hawk War. He was elected captain. For a brief time he served under Robert Anderson who would later command Fort Sumter.
On his return from the military he ran for the legislature but was defeated. In 1834 he was successful in winning a seat in the legislature and was reelected three times serving 1834 to 1851. He was licensed to practice law in 1836. He practiced law in Springfield.
Lincoln married Mary Todd in 1846. They had four sons.
He was elected to Congress and served 1846 to 1849. He advocated the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. In 1854 he campaigned for Senator against Stephen Douglas but failed to win the nomination. In 1856 he joined the new Republican party and was unsuccessful in his attempt to get the party nomination for Vice President.
In 1858 he was nominated by the Republicans as the candidate for Senate. He challenged Stephen Douglas to a series of seven debates. Douglas was elected.
In 1860 he won the party nomination for 16th President and he won the election. The Confederacy was formed before Lincoln was inaugurated. Lincoln came into Washington quietly to avoid an assassination threat. He was inaugurated March 4, 1861.
General Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter on the morning of April 12, 1861. After a heavy barrage the fort surrendered without a single Union casualty. Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion. Congress declared war July 13, 1861.
The early war did not go well for the Union. General McClellan had commanded the Union forces without showing the capability to achieve victory. On July 4, 1863, General Grant achieved victory at Vicksburg and General Meade achieved victory at Gettysburg. The tide had turned. On November 19, 1863, Lincoln went to dedicate a cemetary on the Gettysburg battlefield. There he delivered his "Gettysburg Address."
The nation had never conducted a Presidental election in the middle of a war. Former commanding General McClellan was the candidate running against Lincoln. Shortly before the election Farragut won a victory at Mobile Bay and Sherman marched through Atlanta. The Union supported Lincoln and reelected him to a second term. His second inauguration occured March 4, 1965.
General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865. Scattered battles would continue but the war was effectively over. Lincoln began to make plans for reconstruction of the south. Lincoln was ready for some entertainment. He attended a play at Ford's theater in Washington. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth as part of a conspiracy to kill several members of the administration. He died at 7:22 the next morning. He was buried in Springfield, Illinois.
An article in the February 1924 issue of The Numismatist by D. C. Wismer listed 25 pieces of obsolete currency with the portrait of Lincoln. Lincoln also appears on the following paper money:
50c Fractional Currency, fourth issue
$1 Silver Certificate, series of 1889
$5 Silver Certificate, series 1923
$5 Federal Reserve Bank Note, series 1915 and 1918
$5 Federal Reserve Notes, since 1914
$10 1861 Demand Note, several varieties
$10 Legal Tender Note, series 1862 and 1863
$20 6 percent Treasury Note, 1863
$20 5 percent interest-bearing note, 1863
$100 Legal Tender Note, series of 1869, 1875, 1878 and 1880
$500 Gold Certifcates, series 1863, 1870, 1871 and 1922
$1 1861 Merchants Bank, Trenton, New Jersey
$1 1862 Bank of Commerce, Georgetown, D.C.
$1 1862 Lincoln Bank, Clinton, New York
$2 1862 Lincoln Bank, Clinton, New York
Lincoln appears on several official mint medals and hundreds of private issues. In the February 1924 issue of The Numismatist, Robert P. King listed 887 Lincoln Numismatic items.
The presidential medal (Julian PR-12) was designed by George T. Morgan. The original and modern mint medals (USM 116) are 76 mm.
The 76 mm Indian Peace Medal (Julian IP-38) was struck with an obverse die by Salathiel Ellis and reuse of the reverse die by Joseph Willson. A 62 mm medal (Julian IP-39) was also produced. The modern version (USM 640) is 76 mm.
Lincoln appears on a medal produced in recognition of the Emancipation Proclamation (Julian CM-16) with dies by William Barber. It was introduced in 1871. A modern copy (USM 624) was sold by the Mint.
One hundred years after his birth, in 1909, the face of Lincoln was put on our one cent coins. The reverse showed ears of wheat. The design was by Victor David Brenner. After fifty more years, in 1959, the reverse was changed to show the Lincoln Memorial. The new reverse die was by Frank Gasparro. Since the statue of Lincoln appears within the memorial, Lincoln appears on both sides of our smallest denomination coin.
Lincoln appears on a presidential dollar coin released November 18, 2010, in a ceremony at President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. The obverse was designed and sculpted by Don Everhart. The generic reverse was also done by Everhart.
bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Drake; EAB; Failor; Limpert; Loubat; NCAB 2; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H; NUM 75 Sep 1962 page 1166
- 1809-02-12
- Hodgenville, Hardin County, Kentucky
- 1865-04-14