"It turned out in the long run that Lincoln's credit and the popular confidence that supported it were as valuable both to his creditors and himself as if the sums which stood over his signature had been gold coin in a solvent bank"

This quote by John George Nicolay is referring to the monetary circumstance of Abraham Lincoln. In spite of having a poor credit ranking, Lincoln had the ability to protect loans and financial investments from individuals who trusted him. This trust was better than having gold coin in a solvent bank. In the long run, Lincoln's creditors had the ability to benefit from the trust they had in him, as he had the ability to repay the loans and financial investments. This quote is a testimony to the power of trust and confidence, and how it can be better than cash. It likewise reveals the significance of having a good reputation, as it can be more helpful than having a large quantity of money. Lincoln's example shows that trust and confidence can be more valuable than cash in the long run.