1909 Lincoln Centennial Preserve, Protect, Defend Medal. By Victor David Brenner. Cunningham 24-300Cs, King-304, Smedley-84. Silvered Bronze. MS-64 (PCGS).

63 mm. 79.1 grams. Composition 27.38% Ag, 61.82% Cu, 10.23% Zn, 0.55% Rh (based on XRF analysis performed by PCGS). An exceptional and particularly desirable example of this prized Lincoln Centennial issue. The silvering is complete and even with no readily evident trace of the underlying bronze. Instead, one's eye sees lovely pewter-gray patina with pale gold and pinkish-rose undertones shining forth from isolated areas as the surfaces dip into a light. The in hand appearance, in fact, is one of a silver medal. Fully struck with intricate detail throughout the design. The finish is soft and satiny with a just a few wispy, barely detectable handling marks precluding a Gem Mint State rating. Certainly one of the more dramatic medals produced for Lincoln's birth centenary in 1909, and also a significant rarity. Examples were struck in the Philadelphia Mint in late 1908 and early 1909 and first sold during the former year. According to unpublished information provided to us by Scott Miller, The New-York Daily Tribune reported on this medal in an October 25, 1908 account, in which the stormy sea on the reverse is said to allude to the troubled times of Lincoln's administration. The rock at right represents the Constitution, the eagle atop it Lincoln himself, looking toward the sun and a bright future after the war. Miller reports mintage figures as follows: -November 7, 1908 = 20 bronze medals -December 8, 1908 = 10 copper, 100 bronze medals -December 9, 1908 = 10 silver medals -February 1, 1909 = 10 silver medals The first 20 bronze impressions produced on November 7 caused the reverse die to break because the eagle was cut in too deep relief. Examples from that die are attributed as Cunningham 24-270Bz, King-303. The remainder are from the replacement reverse, and are attributed as Cunningham 24-300, King-304. Smedley reports that a specimen in the ANS Collection, formerly the property of Brenner's nephew David, displays file marks on the edge that appear to have obliterated an edge mark. Based on this, the author asserts that, in addition to the Philadelphia Mint strikings listed above, a few others may have been struck by another firm, possibly Gorham Manufacturing Co. Miller, however, doubts a Gorham connection with these medals. Brenner gave the cancelled dies (the reverse presumably that of King-304) to the ANS on August 13, 1909, along with a Panama Canal medal and a Proof 1909 Lincoln cent. While we have offered four bronze examples of this type since 2014, this is the first specimen in this metallic composition that we can ever recall handling. Upon its consignment our initial thought was that it was one of the rare silver strikings, of which Miller is aware of only two examples. The XRF analysis performed by PCGS (results given above) confirm that it is silvered bronze, an unlisted composition and seemingly very rare itself, if not unique. Clearly an important offering, and sure to see spirited bidding among advanced Lincolniana collectors. Stack's Bowers Galleries credits, and wishes to thank, Scott Miller for much of the information given in this description.

Estimate: $ 7500