When Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1861, the dark clouds of the Civil War were already gathering. After desperate attempts at avoiding conflict had failed and blood had already begun tospill, "Honest Abe” was forced to become the most active Commander in Chief in American history.

The Civil War pitted American against American and, in some cases, brother against brother. Four brutal years of conflict - marked by fierce battles, incredible acts of bravery, and great leadership - ended in 1865 when the Confederacy surrendered to Union forces at Appomattox. Through it all, Lincoln led the nation with integrity and determination, emancipating the slaves and ultimately securing victory in the North. Although he lacked official military training, his shrewd intelligenceand a gift for strategy enabled him to rise above several early blunders by inept generals and become one of our nation's greatest wartime Commanders in Chief.

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and Lincoln's historic Presidency, American Mint has created an exclusive masterpiece: the Abraham Lincoln - Commander in Chief commemorative gold coin. It honors his role as Commander in Chief during America's war between the states and features a highly detailed portrait of President Lincoln on the obverse. Minted to the highest quality "Proof” standard, this solid 14k gold coin comes in its own protective capsule to preserve it for future generations and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.