Abraham Lincoln

1875 15¢ Lincoln, black
June 16, 1858

Lincoln Delivers House Divided Speech 

On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous House Divided Speech in Springfield, Illinois. The speech helped propel Lincoln onto the national stage, setting him on course to become one of America’s greatest presidents.

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1881-82 6¢ Lincoln, brown red
May 7, 1861

Lincoln Made Honorary Citizen of San Marino

On May 7, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln accepted the “honor of citizenship” from San Marino. It was one of the earliest instances of US and San Marino relations, which wouldn’t be formally established for decades. 

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1940 5¢ Daniel Chester French
April 20, 1850

Birth of Daniel Chester French 

Daniel Chester French was born on April 20, 1850, in Exeter, New Hampshire. French made over 100 statues, memorials, sculptures and reliefs during his career, most notably the statue at the center of the Lincoln Memorial and the Concord Minuteman.

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1923 3¢ Lincoln, violet
February 27, 1860

Lincoln’s Cooper Union Address 

On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln gave one of the most important speeches of his career – the Cooper Union Address.

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1978 13¢ Carl Sandburg
January 6, 1878

Birth of Carl Sandburg

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carl Sandburg was born on January 6, 1878, in Galesburg, Illinois. He wrote his own “American fairytales” as well as children’s books and biographies on Abraham Lincoln.

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1987 25¢ Bicentenary Statehood: South Carolina
December 20, 1860

South Carolina Secedes from the Union 

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Within months they were followed by 10 other states, forming the Confederate States of America, sparking the Civil War.

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1958 4¢ Fort Duquesne
November 25, 1758

Capture of Fort Duquesne

On November 25, 1758, British and Colonial American forces successfully took over Fort Duquesne from the French.  This came near the end of several years of fighting in the French and Indian Wars.

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2001 34¢ Thanksgiving
October 3, 1789

Thanksgiving Day Proclamations

On October 3, 1789 and 1863, two sitting presidents called on Americans to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving in November.

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1958 4¢ Lincoln-Douglas Debates
August 21, 1858

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

On August 21, 1858, Abraham Lincoln participated in the first of seven debates against Stephen Douglas.  Part of a race for an Illinois seat in the US Senate, they became known as the Lincoln-Douglas Debates or the Great Debates of 1858.

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