A Medal from Lincoln’s 1860 Campaign
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln’s campaign medals helped carry his image across a divided nation. These small tokens, engraved by Benjamin True, bore Lincoln’s youthful, beardless portrait and the inscription, “FOR PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF ILLINOIS”. Handed out at rallies and gatherings, they became a symbol of his rise to the presidency.
The Cracked Die Reemerges
For generations, the die that created these medals was thought lost. Hidden deep within the archives of Osborne Mint (a division of Osborne Coinage) – the oldest privately owned mint in America – it was rediscovered more than 160 years after its first use. Authenticated by the American Numismatic Association, the die revealed a distinctive fracture across its face, a mark of age that became its defining feature. Collectors quickly began referring to it as the Cracked Lincoln Die.
Limited Gold and Silver Strikings
In 2025 the Osborne Mint gave the artifact a final role. A limited number of gold medals were struck directly from the cracked die before it was retired to museum care. To preserve the artistry for future collectors, mint engravers created a precise reproduction die, used to strike silver issues that faithfully capture Benjamin True’s nineteenth-century design. This remarkable rediscovery ensures that a piece of Lincoln’s first campaign endures – uniting collectors with history, artistry, and one of America’s most important elections.
Preserved for Future Generations
The rediscovery of the die was only the beginning of its new story. In 2025, Osborne honored Lincoln’s legacy by striking medals that bridged past and present. Each impression from the cracked die carried forward not just an image, but the memory of a presidential campaign that changed the nation. From the authentic die came just 860 gold medals, each bearing the subtle fracture that marked its surface. To ensure the design
lived beyond those final strikes, engravers produced a reproduction die that yielded 1,860 silver medals, capturing every nuance of True’s original engraving.
Together, the gold and silver releases form a program unlike any other in numismatics. They are more than objects of metal – each one is a tangible echo of Lincoln’s journey to the presidency.
The Legacy of Osborne Mint
Founded in 1835, Osborne Coinage (parent company of Osborne Mint) in Cincinnati is America’s oldest privately owned mint. For nearly two centuries, it has produced coins, tokens and medals that capture the nation’s history in metal. Its legacy included Civil War tokens, presidential medals, and now the extraordinary rediscovery of the Lincoln campaign die.
Where to Learn More
These limited medals are available only through GovMint® on their website. Collectors interested in acquiring one of the gold or silver issues may visit GovMint.com for release information, specifications, and ordering details.
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About GovMint
At GOVMINT our goal is to be “The Best Source for Coins Worldwide®.” Our name, “GOVMINT” reflects our commitment to offering our customers the widest range of modern issue coins and numismatic products from all of the world’s major government mints. Here you’ll find thousands upon thousands of coins from nations across the globe – and across the centuries – in a variety of precious metals. Whether you’ve been collecting coins for years or are just starting, GOVMINT has the products and information to make your hobby come alive. We are one of the largest distributors of collectible coins and currency issues in the United States; and, of course, as a private retailer, we are not affiliated with the U.S. government or U.S. Treasury in any way.
With headquarters centrally located in Eagan, Minnesota, GOVMINT is one of the largest collectible coin marketers in the country. Besides a wide selection of scarce and hard-to-find U.S. and worldwide government issue coins, GOVMINT offers many other collectible products including paper money, ancient coins, and specialized numismatic services.
About Osborne Mint
Established in 1835, Osborne Mint is America’s oldest continuously operating private mint. Osborne Mint is part of HM Precious Metals and the Osborne Coinage family, which includes Osborne Coinage, TokensDirect and Van Brook of Lexington. The mint, a 60,000 square foot facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, houses the development, engraving and manufacturing of numismatic quality collectible rounds, bars and coins.
Every Osborne Mint product is manufactured to strict standards for metal purity, weight and dimensions. Osborne Mint strikes thousands of collectible rounds annually and circulates them to the public through certified distributors. Gold, fine silver, copper and brass collections from Osborne Mint are truly pieces of art and are 100% “Minted in America.”
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