Bryant Cottage offering limited-edition Lincoln-Douglas Debate coins

BEMENT - A coin set commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates may be reserved through March 1, 2008 at Bryant Cottage State Historic Site, 146 E. Wilson Street in Bement. This limited-edition set of seven coins, each representing one of the Debate sites, is offered in conjunction with the Lincoln-Douglas Society and the Illinois Lincoln-Douglas Debates Sesquicentennial Committee.

Proceeds from the coin sales in Bement will help fund a special Debate sesquicentennial event. To reserve a coin set, visit Bryant Cottage or send a check to Bement Community Council, P.O. Box 41, Bement, IL 61813.

Each coin set is $100 and consists of seven, two-inch diameter coins, gold-finished with two-toned silver plating. They come in a lined cherry-finished wooden display box with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, and a booklet explaining both the history of the Debates and the background on the design of each coin. There will be no coin sets minted after the initial order period.

The Debates took place in Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy and Alton. In a letter headed "July 30, 1858, Bement, Piatt County Illinois," U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas wrote to Abraham Lincoln confirming the dates, towns, and the ground rules for the debates. Douglas defeated Lincoln in the 1858 election, but the fame Lincoln gained from the Debates helped propel him to the Presidency in 1860. Communities are planning events to observe the 150th anniversary which will feature Lincoln and Douglas impersonators visiting each Debate location.

Bement is planning a July 26 event to commemorate the Debate Sesquicentennial, including an opening ceremony, "prairie ovation," period craft demonstrations, a ladies' tea, Civil War military and civilian re-enactors, and a performance of "The Bement Story." The event will be highlighted by the appearance of Lincoln and Douglas as part of "Reunion Tour 2008," a visit by the two men to each Debate community.