| Description |
Alan V. Weinberg comments: Finely reeded edge. Awarded by Brig. Gen'l LaFayette C. Baker, head of the Secret Service in 1865 plus $1,000 and so inscribed at top reverse. Sgt Cottingham, who was promptly promoted to Captain, is mentioned in Baker's own 1867 History of the Secret Service. This extraordinary, historical medal (not known to King) has a numismatic pedigree back to an H.G.Sampson sale Feb 12-14, 1884 lot 870 where, described as a "Proof and. Unique", it surpassed its reserve of $25 to sell for $42 to T. Harrison Garrett. When Dr. George Fuld first rec'd the fantastic Garrett/JHU medals for auction consignment & cataloguing at Bowers & Ruddy Galleries (then in Hollywood CA), he called me up to be present at the unwrapping. This medal took my breath away and I was determined to own it. During that visit, I asked George which medal, of the many hundreds of Garrett/JHU rarities, he most prized. He replied it was this Lincoln Assassination medal that most impressed him and that he valued it at $5,000. So we agreed altho my opinion of value was much higher. It hammered in 1981 for $26K and would have gone so much higher but for the "embarrassment of riches" in that 1981 sale. Ex- Garrett/JHU. |
