Professional Business Writing - Article Writing - Lincoln's Formative Years

Business Goals:

The Professional Business Writing request for this article stemmed from the objective to educate customers about the second Lincoln penny released in 2009. Educating customers stimulates their interest in your products and services and adds to your brand identity.

Example - Article Writing:

The Formative Years in Indiana - the second of the four Lincoln cents

In 2009, the US Mint celebrates the bicentennial birth of Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, and the centennial of the release of the first Lincoln penny with four new Lincoln cents. In remembrance, each of the four pennies presents a different reverse highlighting the geographical stages of his life. The first reverse released on his birthday in February showed the one room cabin in Kentucky where Lincoln spent much of his first seven years. Now, the second penny, being released in May, recognizes the Lincoln family’s move to Indiana in 1816, and the fourteen years a young Lincoln spent there.  

This second cent’s special reverse shows a young Lincoln sitting on a log reading a book with what may be an ax leaning next to him. In this portrayal, he appears to be a strong young man nearly grown to his full height of six foot four inches. Though this reverse depicts historical aspects of Lincoln’s life, the picture tells a potentially misleading story. 

It is true that Lincoln was adept with an ax and said, “If I had six hours to cut wood, I would spend the first four hours sharpening the ax.” It is also true that he spent time on the Lincoln farm and in helping others split rails for fences. One time, he even bartered splitting 400 rails for a woman if she wove cloth and made pants for him.  

But, here is one problem with this depiction. Splitting rails was not done with an ax. An ax could help with the splitting, except most of the work would be done with wedges, a maul and a glut. Fence rails were split from a hardwood log, generally a type of oak, six to eight feet long. Depending on the diameter, several rails could be split from one log. Even sharpened, an ax could not begin to split a hardwood log. 

Using a steel wedge and a maul, perhaps with a steel head but probably wooden and also made from hardwood, Lincoln started the first split from the larger end of the log or where there was a natural split already in the wood. He used several wedges, probably a mix of steel and wood, to follow and widen the split until the end of the log. When the opening became wide enough, a large wooden wedge called a glut - roughly twelve inches long and four to six inches at the widest point - would finally separate the pieces of wood. Using the same process, these two pieces would be further split one or more times depending on the size of the log. Looking closely at the log on the coin, you see a glimpse of the top of a wooden wedge embedded in the log. Perhaps that is a maul leaning beside Lincoln, but mauls of that era were made of wood with a large round head.  

Rail splitting became important again later in his professional life. When Lincoln was a young politician in Illinois, John Hanks – a family friend for whom Lincoln helped split many fence rails – brought split rails to a political gathering as an illustration while he hailed Lincoln as a fine man. The demonstration was a success, and “rail splitter” became part of Lincoln’s campaign. 

A second problem of this reverse is Lincoln’s absorption in his book. It is true that his mother encouraged him to read, and he continued to do so after her death in 1818. It is also known that Lincoln frequently carried a book with him. However, from a 21st century perspective, this illustration implies he was lazy on his job. Other historical commentary claimed Lincoln could be trusted to do his jobs quickly and efficiently. Obviously, splitting rails was physical work requiring occasional breaks. Maybe Lincoln did spend those breaks reading, however he was a man of integrity, even at a young age, and completed his jobs swiftly.  

With those slight disagreements, this coin of the four bicentennial cents should not be dismissed. It is a superb piece of art and succinctly tells the tale of Lincoln’s life in Indiana. He was a strong boy and a tall, muscular young man. He was good with an ax. He did enjoy reading and learning. And, he was a rail splitter. Within the brief picture, the artist’s remarkable talent provided a great deal of information in the small space allotted on the back of a penny.  

This Indiana – The Formative Years coin is a great addition to the four coin set and will be an excellent reminder of Lincoln’s dedication to learning and to growing as a man. The US Mint schedule shows the release date for this second coin as May 14, 2009.  

Remember to order your Certified Rolls and Mint State graded 65 and higher versions of this coin. You won’t be disappointed! 

Comments:

Articles educating customers should be fun, interesting and pertinent to their interest in your products and services. Professional Business Writing can help you educate your customers and help your identity in the marketplace and on the internet.

Contact us to help you broaden your business identity and visibility.