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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Bryan Dollar
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Question
I have one of those Bryan dollars and wonder if it is genuine piece from the 1896 campaign or a copy of some sort. It's something I've had since my youth but I no longer remember who gave it to me, probably my grandfather. So I've had it over 50 years and have used it as a drink coaster and paper weight. It looks a lot like it's made of aluminum but feels more like lead. There are places close to the numbers in the date and along the design on the edge were there is bright silver like it had a bright finish or polish on it at one point.
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It looks like an oversized Morgan dollar, about 3 1/2 inches with the date 1896 under the liberty head on the front and 16 to 1 - NIT under the eagle on the back. Then along the edge you can clearly see the seam from the mold it was cast in. Cast into the edge in raised letters is "CAMPAIGN SOUVENIR MOISE. S F".
Hi Lawrence:
What you have is most likely a token or medal struck during the campaign of 1896 to elect William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic Party nominee, President of the United States. Bryan money is considered to be pro-McKinley in the 1896 presidential election. The original tokens are scarce to rare, and there are a number of different sizes and types.
With respect to Satirical Bryan Money, Farran Zerbe states: "The Satirical class comprises those pieces of numerous variety in size material with derisive or humorous inscription or design. Most all are casts; a few were struck. Type metal, or some composition of lead and aluminum were the most commonly generally used materials, with iron, copper, tin and cardboard contributing a few varieties". Thousands of such oversized coins were issued to ridicule the so-called Free Silver doctrine. Democrat candidate William Jennings Bryan and his supporters advocated the free coinage of silver and a new, bi-metal monetary standard in which silver was valued at a ratio of 16:1 to gold.
Bryan's Republican opponent, William McKinley, was endorsed by those who favored a single-metal, gold standard. They pointed out that if the Free Silver proposal were literally implemented, a coin containing a dollar's worth of silver would be "as big as a stove lid!" Hence, the size of this satirical piece, and 16 to 1 on the reverse. The letters NIT stand for "Not in Trust."
Although some other varieties of Bryan money were struck in silver, "dollars" like yours were typically cast in tin, lead, zinc, etc. The approximate value of your piece in Very Good condition would be about $50, and one in Fine to Very Fine could bring up to $200 to $300 to an interested collector. Some were heavily counterfeited. You should have this piece looked at professionally to establish the authenticity.
I'd suggest that you limit yourself to the Professional Numismatic Guild (PNG) dealers. Here's a link to find ones in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php
Here's a link on Bryan Dollars: http://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/Bryan_Dollars.html
Wikipedia has a link that gives an excellent history of Bryan, and what he stood for, "Free Silver". The link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Bryan
You may want to check eBay listings in the exonumia category under coins and currency from time to time to see if tokens like yours are listed and what they are going for. I found two completed listings for SCD HK#780 and HK#781 listed for $290 to $390, which did not sell.
Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.
Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
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Answers by Expert:
Ronald Fern
Expertise
I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.
Experience
Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.
Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG
Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News
Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964
BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968
Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.
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