RR Auction sold a signed Abraham Lincoln photograph, discovered in a Massachusetts family home, for $149,020 in a recent auction.
The portrait—known as the Penny Profile—measures 2.25 by 4 inches and was taken on February 9, 1864, by Anthony Berger at Mathew Brady’s Washington studio. It became one of Lincoln’s most recognisable likenesses and served as the photographic reference for Victor David Brenner’s design of the Lincoln cent and the 5‑dollar bill.
In December 1864, Lincoln donated six signed portraits to the Soldiers’ Aid Society of Westford, Massachusetts, to raise funds for families of local Union soldiers. The photographs were sold at a fundraising event on December 14, with proceeds earmarked for those suffering the war’s costs at home. The reverse inscription on this particular card confirms its connection to that benefit.
The image resurfaced in a family desk when a 1924 newspaper clipping was found behind it, proving Lincoln’s signature and linking the card to the Westford donation. The provenance was authenticated by PSA/DNA, and the item was described as very good to fine with minor age signs.
The $149,020 price reflects the market’s appetite for presidential photographs tied to Civil War philanthropy and underscores the enduring value of artifacts that shaped iconic U.S. currency. The auction also highlights the legacy of Westford industrialists like Charles G. Sargent, who acquired the portrait and passed it to his son, Allan C. Sargent, before it entered the public record.
The transaction confirms the photograph’s historical importance and its role in the design of the Lincoln cent, setting a benchmark for future sales of Civil War‑era memorabilia.