1865 Abraham Lincoln North Western Sanitary Fair Medal. Bronzed Copper. 57.5 mm. By Anthony C. Paquet. Cunningham 21-010Cbz, King-501, Julian CM-45. Mint State, Tooled.，Mahogany finish with some multicolored toning in evidence here and there. A few minor abrasions and contact marks as you would expect on a medal of this size, concentrations of light scratches associated with a couple of peripheral spots explain our stated qualifier. A die crack from 2 oclock across Lincolns head to 8 oclock inspired an apocryphal story, often repeated in numismatic and historical circles, that the crack occurred on the day that Lincoln was shot. Actually, the 1,000 medals struck were produced at the Philadelphia Mint during June 1865, two months after the presidents death. To forever put this myth to bed, consider the obverse legend: MEMORIA IN AETERNA (In Eternal Memory), a very unusual phrase to use for a living person! Another numismatic legend, concocted by someone who could read Latin, no doubt, asserts that the die crack -- present on most specimens -- miraculously traces the path of the assassins bullet through Lincolns skull.
