1860 Lincoln Wide Awakes tokens
Zoins
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Here's a Lincoln Wide Awakes piece muled with a Bramhall Washington die I just picked up. There were just 3 of these struck in silver. I also picked up a white metal specimen of which only 15 were struck. This has a great provenance including F.C.C. Boyd, Wayte Raymond, John J. Ford Jr., and Q. David Bowers. I also picked up a white metal specimen previously owned by Andrew C. Zabriskie and Q. David Bowers.
Here's some info on this piece:
The obverse displays an undraped bust left portrait of Washington. This token was struck by George Hampden Lovett of New York City at the request of William Leggett Bramhall, who was the first curator of the American Numismatic Society. The obverse is the same as was used on the previous token (Baker 569B). The reverse is from the Lincoln medalet (DeWitt AL 1860-73) produced by Lovett shortly after May of 1860. It displays a circular wreath containing a design with a central banner carrying the legend WIDEAWAKES. This muled token is one of a group of mules using Robins, Royce & Hard storecard dies that were produced in limited quantities by George H. Lovett at the request of William Leggett Bramhall during the autumn of 1860. It is the only one in this series of mules with a Washington bust. The series is unlisted in Rulau but is mentioned on pp. 254-255 under Robins, Royce & Hard medallic cards. Three examples of this Washington mule were produced in silver and fifteen examples were issued in each of the following metals: copper, brass, copper-nickel and white metal.
Here's an overview from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Awakes
In early March, 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke in Hartford, Connecticut opposing the spread of slavery and advocating for the right of workers to strike. Five store clerks, who had started a Republican group called the Wide Awakes, decided to join a parade for Lincoln, who delighted in the torchlight escort provided for him after the speech back to his hotel.[2] Over the ensuing weeks, the Lincoln campaign made plans to develop Wide Awakes throughout the country and to use them to spearhead large voter registration drives, knowing that new voters and young voters tend to embrace new and young parties.[3]
Members of the Wide Awakes were described by The New York Times as, "young men of character and energy, earnest in their Republican convictions and enthusiastic in prosecuting the canvass on which we have entered.[4] In Chicago on October 3, 1860, 10,000 Wide Awakes marched in a three-mile procession. The story of this rally occupied eight columns of the Chicago Tribune. In Indiana, as one historian reports,
1860 was the most colorful in the memory of the Hoosier electorate. "Speeches, day and night, torch-light processions, and all kinds of noise and confusion are the go, with all parties," commented the "independent" Indianapolis Locomotive. Congressman Julian too was impressed by the "contrivance and spectacular display" which prevailed in the current canvass. Each party took unusual pains to mobilize its followers in disciplined political clubs, but the most remarkable of these were the Lincoln "Rail Maulers" and "Wide Awakes," whose organizations extended throughout the state. Clad in gaudy uniforms the members of these quasi-military bands participated in all Republican demonstrations. The "Wide Awakes" in particular were well drilled and served as political police in escorting party speakers and in preserving order at public meetings. Party emulation made every political rally the occasion for carefully arranged parades through banner-bedecked streets, torchlight processions, elaborate floats and transparencies, blaring bands, and fireworks.[5]
By the midpoint of the 1860 campaign, Republicans bragged that they had Wide Awake chapters in every county of every Northern (free) state.[3] By the day of Lincoln's election as president there were 500,000 members. The group remained active for several decades.[2]
Comments
That's cool.
Talk about a ground swell political action movement. Thanks for the info. Peace Roy
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I like your mule very much @Zoins
I have the Wide awakes token which is a more common one
(1860) TOKEN DEWITT AL-1860-40 BRASS HARTFORD WIDE AWAKENS CAMPAIGN MS63
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The Democratic Party had one also.
This is an article I found in
"Special Dispatch to the New-York Times."
BALTIMORE, Friday, Nov. 2.1860
The Breckinridge Democratic procession tonight was large and enthusiastic. It contained about four thousand torch men uniformed, and five hundred mounted men hav- ing banners, transparencies and music. They marched through the principal streets, which were partially illuminated. The procession contained a large number of boys.
The uniforms and torches were all furnished gratuitously, it is supposed, by "Uncle Sam."
The procession is supposed to have been two miles long. There was much enthusiasm. The spectators were not so numerous as on last night, the weather being unfavorable. A singular feature was the procession heartily cheering the Bell-Everett Head-quarters as it passed, and receiving hearty responses. The whole affair passed off creditably, and the appearance of the procession was much admired.
The Douglasites also had a procession, numbering a thousand Douglas invincibles and others. They are also holding a Douglas mass meeting in Monument-square, which is attended by about four thousand. There is speaking and great enthusiasm.
There is intense excitement throughout the City. The Unionists are also holding large meetings.
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(1860) TOKEN SD 1860-3 COPPER STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS RESTRIKE CAMPAIGN MS63
I read an article that said that these might not be restrikes as so very few were
made and a few different metals were used.
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Great piece. The wide awakes were an interesting crew, clad in cloaks and carrying torches. If you have access to the Zabriskie catalog (my go to manual on Lincolnania) they have pictured an actual badge of the wide awakes.
Zabriskie purchased it for peanuts in the 1890s and it sold for several thousand dollars a century later.
If I can drum up a photo of it, I'll edit my post.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
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Great tokens and info @coinsarefun and @DCW !
I've posted some info below which has some references to the Democratic version: Ever-Readys, Little Giants, Little Dougs and Douglas Invincibles.
Here's a photo posted @coinsarefun in an earlier thread:
There are a couple of good pages on the Wideawakes in "Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield" by Bryon C. Andreasen here:
Here is the badge from the Hartford Wide Awakes that Zabriskie purchased for $1.25.
It sold a century later for $12,100 at Sotheby's. Not a bad return on investment, though he was obviously not around for the sale.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Great info @DCW
Here's the photo of the Merrill C. Berman specimen which was sold by Heritage on Sept 26, 2015 for $14,375.00 against an estimate of $13,000.
Here's the Heritage description which indicates a few known specimens:
That's nice!
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Great historical thread and super pictures of the memorabilia and parades.....Very interesting ....Cheers, RickO