(1869) Gold Medal J-PR-38, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,485 SP61 03-17-2021 eBay

Description

(1869) Gold Medal J-PR-38, Abraham Lincoln. This bronze modern restrike of the Abraham Lincoln Broken Column medalet reproduces the Julian PR-38 design for contemporary collectors. Modern restrikes — produced by the Mint from approximately the 1950s through the 1970s — made historically significant medal designs available to a new generation of collectors who could not access the scarce original strikings. The medalet preserves William Barber's Broken Column reverse design with its powerful funerary symbolism and Emancipation Proclamation reference. The "Ae" designation indicates the bronze (copper alloy) composition, distinguishing this from the earlier silver and gold versions. Modern restrikes typically display different surface characteristics from original strikings — the bronze alloy produces a brighter, more uniform surface compared to the chemically bronzed copper of mid-nineteenth-century originals. NGC and PCGS certification labels differentiate modern restrikes from original strikings, with the former typically labeled as "modern restrike" following the Julian attribution. This distinction is important for collectors, as the value differential between original strikings and modern restrikes can be substantial, reflecting differences in age, scarcity, and production context. Despite being a later production, this modern restrike preserves the artistic and historical significance of Barber's design in an accessible format. For collectors focused on Lincoln's medallic legacy or the presidential medal series, modern restrikes provide an entry point to important designs that would otherwise be available only to collectors with significant resources.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Gold strikings of the Lincoln Broken Column medal are known in single-digit quantities. One of the most valuable Lincoln medals in existence. Auction appearances command extraordinary prices.

Cross References

Julian PR-38 (Modern Restrike, Ae); NGC #951932; PCGS #891962