Lincoln President Cents

[ 1 ] “When Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, the nation was already on the verge of civil war, and fighting soon broke out at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Shortly after the Battle of Antietam, in late 1862, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel territory free as of January 1, 1863. The Union victory at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 1863, marked a crucial turning point in the war in favor of the North. The summer of 1864, however, proved to be one of the most difficult of Lincoln's Presidency, and his reelection was in doubt. Peace negotiations began, but collapsed, and his cabinet was divided. But the war-time President prevailed easily that November, carrying 22 of 25 participating states. The war ended with General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Just five days later, on April 14, President Lincoln was mortally wounded by an assassin, John Wilkes Booth, while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington. Army physicians worked to save him throughout the night, but he never regained consciousness and died at 7:22 a.m. the next morning at the age of 56. The coin's design for aspect four [see the other three aspects] of Lincoln's life features the half-finished United States Capitol dome, symbolizing a nation torn apart by civil war and the resolve Lincoln showed as he guided the country through its most grave crisis. It was in front of the rising dome that Lincoln began his Presidency and under the completed dome that his body lay in state, having made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the Union and defend freedom and democracy.” — usmint.gov lesson plan for teachers

[ 2 ] “Susan Gamble is a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and has over 20 years of experience as a graphic designer and illustrator. She has worked in graphic design, illustration (both traditional and digital), web design, and animation. Her design work includes posters, product labels, brochures, national magazines, logos and advertising art. Her illustrations and animations are featured in books, pilot training courseware and websites. Susan Gamble's career has placed her work in cities all across the United States. Much of her work has been done for foundations that exist to preserve America's history and natural beauty. Special projects have included portraits of President Ronald Reagan, President George H.W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, and Adm. William J. Crowe, Jr. for a book about the U.S. Navy Memorial. Ms. Gamble recently had the honor of rendering the design for the new Air Force Combat Action Medal for the United States Air Force . . .” — 2009 Artistic Infusion Program Artists, usmint.gov (Photo of Susan Gamble is a United States Mint image.)

[ 3 ] “Joseph Menna is a classically trained sculptor skilled in both traditional and digital media. He specializes in creating digital and traditional sculptures for the toy and entertainment industries. From articulated action figures to limited edition collectible statues, Joseph can generate whatever deliverable your company requires. He is an expert user of FreeForm, Zbrush, Mudbox, and Maya and is professionally experienced in all phases of digital sculpture production including: scanning, digital sculpting, digitally repurposing scan data and animation models for toy and collectible production, CNC tool milling, and rapid prototyping. Current and past clients include DC Direct, Bowen Designs, Hasbro Toys, Fisher-Price, and others.” — josephmenna.com (Photo of Joseph Menna is a United States Mint image.)