Owner Comments:
THERE ARE ONLY A TOTAL OF (8) OF THIS MEDAL TYPE LISTED IN THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 9/2023, THERE ARE (1) MS 64 AND (1) MS 65 LISTED AS FINER. THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEAUTIFUL BLUE/GREEN TONING ON THE WREATHS ON THE REVERSE, AND DEEP BLUE AND PURPLE TONING ON THE OBVERSE.
THIS MEDAL LISTS THE INAUGURAL DATE AND THE DATE OF DEATH FOR PRESIDENT GARFIELD ON THE REVERSE.
THESE JULIAN U.S. MINT MEDALS WITH "PR" IN THE TYPE WERE MADE FOR THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY PASSED AWAY (POST REQUIEM) EITHER WHILE IN OFFICE OR AFTER THEY HAD LEFT OFFICE. YOU MAY FIND THESE IN BRONZE, SILVER, AND GOLD.
President Garfield had only 4 months to establish his presidency before being fatally shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a deranged political office seeker, on July 2, 1881. During his limited time in office he was able to re-establish the independence of the Presidency by defying the Republican Stalwart boss, Senator Roscoe Conkling. His inaugural address set the agenda for his presidency; however, he was unable to live long enough to implement these policies.
Garfield's call for civil service reform, however, was fulfilled in the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A. Arthur in 1883. Garfield's assassination was the primary motivation for the reform bill's passage.
AN UNGRADED MS SILVER BEAUTIFULLY TONED EXAMPLE WAS SOLD BY STACKS BOWERS AUCTIONS IN 2021 FOR $960.00
THERE ARE NOW NO PROOFS LISTED IN THE NGC CENSUS FOR THESE MEDALS. I ASSUME THAT THIS MEDAL IS NOW CLASSIFIED AS MS 65 IN THE NGC CENSUS.
A VERY BEAUTIFULLY TONED UNGRADED MS EXAMPLE WAS SOLD BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2021 FOR $960.00.