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The year 2009 was the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and the centennial for the Lincoln cent. In recognition of those anniversaries, the U.S. mint issued four commemorative reverses for the Lincoln cent: birth and early childhood in Kentucky (log cabin), formative years in Indiana (studying while sitting on a log), professional life in Illinois (standing before the Illinois State Capital) and presidency in Washington, DC (building of the capital dome). The coin shown here in my type set is the professional life in Illinois reverse.
Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln’s “failures” before he won the presidency, but he was in fact quite successful in many ventures. At the time of his election to the presidency in 1860, Lincoln was one of the most successful lawyers in the Midwest. His annual income was far above that of most Americans during that period, and he was an important man in his community with some influence. He served in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834 to 1840 and quickly rose to positions in that capacity. After winning admission to the bar in 1836 he built a very successful law practice.
Lincoln’s greatest disappointments were in his inability to win or attain high office in Washington, DC. Lincoln served one term in the House of Representatives from 1847 until 1849. His efforts in the House were largely unsuccessful because he opposed the Mexican War. In the 1850s Lincoln had his heart set on winning a seat in the United States Senate. In those days the state legislatures elected the Senators, and Lincoln failed to win a seat in 1855 and 1858. In the second contest, Lincoln achieved national prominence when he debated Senator Stephen Douglas in a series of the seven debates that were held at various locations in Illinois.
In a carefully orchestrated campaign Lincoln won the Republican presidential nomination in 1860 and was elected president with only 40% of the popular vote in a four man race. As president Lincoln successful led the nation though the Civil War and was able to re-unite the country. After winning a second term as president in 1864, he was tragically assassinated on April 15, 1865. Today most historians would rate Abraham Lincoln as our greatest president.
To the right is the Old Illinois State Capital as it looks today. Abraham Lincoln served there after the capital was moved there, and he also tried many cases there as a lawyer.