Life Mask of Abraham Lincoln

1630Boston · March 15, 2021 3:31AM

** Post a coin with President Lincoln on it **

In 1860 Volk made molds of the face and hands of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). The life mask reproduces Lincoln’s beardless face as it appeared during his first presidential campaign. The hand (2007.185.1) grips a broomstick, a prop that Lincoln improvised upon Volk’s suggestion that he hold something cylindrical resembling a document. In 1886 Saint-Gaudens, the collectors Thomas B. Clarke and Erwin Davis, and the journalist Richard W. Gilder together purchased the original plaster casts to present to the Smithsonian Institution. To finance the donation, they sold bronze and plaster casts after Volk’s originals, with production supervised by Saint-Gaudens.

** Post a coin with President Lincoln on it **

1630Boston · March 15, 2021 3:32AM

1630Boston · March 15, 2021 3:34AM

Zoins · March 15, 2021 3:42AM

Interesting piece from Leonard Wells Volk.

The following is from The Met museum. It has a nice photo of the inscription inside the mask below.

The Met wrote:

Life Mask of Abraham Lincoln
1860, cast 1886
Leonard Wells Volk

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 762

In 1860 Volk made molds of the face and hands of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). The life mask reproduces Lincoln’s beardless face as it appeared during his first presidential campaign. The hand (2007.185.1) grips a broomstick, a prop that Lincoln improvised upon Volk’s suggestion that he hold something cylindrical resembling a document. In 1886 Saint-Gaudens, the collectors Thomas B. Clarke and Erwin Davis, and the journalist Richard W. Gilder together purchased the original plaster casts to present to the Smithsonian Institution. To finance the donation, they sold bronze and plaster casts after Volk’s originals, with production supervised by Saint-Gaudens.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/19445?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ft=lincoln+mask&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=1

Zoins · March 15, 2021 3:46AM

Modern reproductions are available for $99.99 now:

https://www.neo-mfg.com/products/history-abraham-abe-lincoln-lw-volk-bust-41645

Zoins · March 15, 2021 3:49AM

There are actually two masks:

One of the myths surrounding Lincoln is that a death mask was made after his assassination. In fact, Lincoln had two life masks done, five years apart. The first was produced by Leonard Volk in Chicago, Illinois, in April 1860. Clark Mills completed the second in February 1865 in Washington, D.C. The photo shows mask copies and hand casts while on temporary display in Springfield, Illinois.

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/resource/masks.htm

Catbert · March 15, 2021 5:04AM

Halloween option!

Just seems a bit spooky to me.

ricko · March 15, 2021 5:44AM

Interesting... and certainly something for a museum.... Not an item I would want - seems a bit macabre. Cents and five dollar bills are sufficient Lincoln memorabilia for me. Cheers, RickO

asheland · March 15, 2021 12:06PM

This is a cool piece not often seen:

asheland · March 15, 2021 12:11PM

And my favorite note in the fractionals:

TurtleCat · March 15, 2021 12:13PM

There was a history channel (back when it was historical) program on life masks including his. It was fascinating as they were able to diagnose some disease Abe had through it.

I believe this is it.

https://youtu.be/91RJIK2BbLA

TomB · March 15, 2021 12:43PM

I took these photos during a visit to the Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historic Site (ASGNHS) several years ago. They were not on public display, but if you asked nicely and the park rangers already knew you, they would let you examine them after handing over a pair of gloves to wear.

Jimnight · March 15, 2021 1:03PM

Very interesting.

stockdude_ · March 15, 2021 1:18PM

Cool post. Very interesting. May have to get one of the replica busts and put it next to my Beethoven!

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · March 15, 2021 1:31PM

the smithsonian has digitized both of the life masks in their possession and hands as part of their open access program - literally free for everyone to access and download - dont go buying replicas, as you can make your own for "free" [unless you want to for convenience sake; save time and effort on your end ]

https://www.si.edu/search/3d-models?edan_q=lincoln&

here's a penny 🥸

coinbuf · March 15, 2021 1:35PM

Very cool

Barberian · March 15, 2021 1:48PM

Looks like Lincoln was given nose jobs on the Lincoln cent and commemorative half dollar.

koynekwest · March 15, 2021 2:02PM

coinsarefun · March 15, 2021 2:03PM

Justacommeman · March 15, 2021 2:36PM

I collect creepy coins but life masks are even too much for me

One of my favs

DCW · March 15, 2021 4:02PM

Abraham Lincoln/"He Lived, For His Country" by Joseph Merriam/John Bolen

bearcave · March 15, 2021 4:39PM

bolivarshagnasty · March 15, 2021 4:51PM

Not much in to the life masks. As others have said, " a little too creepy".
Newp Lincoln.

amwldcoin · March 15, 2021 5:18PM

I have to agree with many above...looking at that mask gives me the heebby-jeebies!

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · March 15, 2021 5:39PM

@coinsarefun

what is this?! what a great group of Lincoln pieces 💥

coinsarefun · March 15, 2021 5:47PM

@ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ said:

@coinsarefun

what is this?! what a great group of Lincoln pieces 💥

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It’s one of 3 medal set in the Central States Numismatic Society Centennial.
One is copper, one silver(missing it) and one white medal. When I first came across the one you
quoted I had to have it but couldn’t find out anything. Then after a bunch of research (Google)
I found out it’s out of a 3 medal set. Ripstra is the name under the bust. Google his name....
....he has a very long history in numismatics.

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · March 15, 2021 7:32PM

@coinsarefun incredible - thanks for the info - what a beautiful piece - hope youre able to track down the silver

speaking of - I was just looking into how much one of these masks [smithsonian data; CC0 license, so I could even sell em if I wanted to get into precious metals busts of lincoln 😅] would cost to 3d print in silver or gold - check it out - think I may order one in silver and one in gold plated brass and share with yall here in 4-6 wks when they come through; right around 1" each; 1/10 of life-size

here's a penny mockup w data from lincolns life mask

Coinscratch · March 15, 2021 8:07PM

pursuitofliberty · March 15, 2021 9:32PM

kiyote · March 15, 2021 9:54PM

I had one made when I was 25. It was an interesting process

1northcoin · March 15, 2021 10:13PM

How about a "Lincoln Log?"

1northcoin · March 15, 2021 10:15PM

A Lincoln themed display from the ANA Portland Money Show:

1630Boston · March 16, 2021 3:20AM

@pursuitofliberty
What a nice five dollar bill

1630Boston · March 16, 2021 3:21AM

@coinsarefun
What a collection of Lincoln 'stuff'

Zoins · March 16, 2021 3:39AM

gonzer · March 16, 2021 4:32AM

@asheland said:
And my favorite note in the fractionals:

He's got that Tom Hanks smirk.

jedm · March 16, 2021 4:40AM

Is it just me or does that fractional portrait make him look a bit like the "boss" Bruce Springsteen?

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · March 17, 2021 9:31PM

just ordered 1 in silver, 1 in gold, both 1/10 life-size - should be here in 3 wks

got me thinking, we could collaboratively design a lincoln 'coin' w this data, and put it up on the printer's site for anyone to order on-demand - just thinking out loud

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emeraldATV · March 17, 2021 10:14PM

Hydrant · March 18, 2021 8:40AM

Spooky.

JimTyler · March 18, 2021 5:01PM

Just way too creepy for me. I want to fade off into oblivion when I’m gone. Cremated, ashes scattered. Just like we all will be in a thousand years.

1630Boston · March 18, 2021 5:03PM

@JimTyler said:
Just way too creepy for me. I want to fade off into oblivion when I’m gone. Cremated, ashes scattered. Just like we all will be in a thousand years.

nice and peaceful

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · April 9, 2021 12:51PM

the 3d printed metal prints I made from the smithsonian's open access 3d digitization project arrived today - sharing here as I'd still like to collaborate with interested parties on 'minting' [via 3d printed metals] a dimensional lincoln coin that anyone could then order on-demand for cost + shipping - I can already hear the 'sounds gimmicky' comments, and respect that; definitely not a 'coin' for everyone

anyways, here they are

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life mask of Abraham Lincoln by Leonard Wells Volk, 1860; before Lincoln ran for president; before the republican convention - printed at ~1/10 actual size in sterling silver

https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/abraham-lincoln:2b4a081a-9ea1-4b0c-b1c3-6f5389da3244

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life mask of Abraham Lincoln by Clark Mills, Feb 11 1865 - just about 2 months before Lincoln's assassination - printed at ~1/10 actual size in gold-plated brass

https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/abraham-lincoln:c02c239d-5ebf-4a7a-a368-e2288bbf4b31

thisistheshow · April 10, 2021 3:14AM

Amazing thread!

coinsarefun · April 10, 2021 8:26AM

@ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ what an amazing job. I usually don’t go for these type of things but\
this is unusual and accurate so I do like it very much!
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By the way I finally found a 3 piece Lincoln set. Never did find just the silver so the set is perfect.
The aluminum piece made by J. Henry Ripstra made in gold was included in
stacks auction “unprecedented Lincoln Gold Medal Collection it appears he only did one in gold. Now I need to find out why the 1965 Central States Convention set has only one Lincoln done by Ripstra and the other two by Kofink. They look very similar if not the same.
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