juju
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2007
- Messages
- 2,015
- Reaction score
- 17
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Burien, Wa.
- Detector(s) used
- Whites MXT ALL PRO, Grey Ghost Headphones, Garrett Pro-Pointer
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
1897 Mechanical Dollar and it still works "updated info"
Had a short productive hunt today. The snow melted real quick and the sun came out so off I went. I was workin a cruddy little park in the north end of Tacoma and not gettin any satisfaction. So I was callin it a day. I packed everything up and headed home. On the way I passed a hill with some steps but no structure. I thought what the heck I'll give it a shot. The place was loaded with trash and bottles, as well as black berry stubble, so swingin was at a snails pace. I didn't recover any coins but got this cool relic. I did a little research before posting and found the following info:
Mechanical Free Silver Satirical Medal, 1897. Brass, 38.1mm, affixed loop. Brilliant Uncirculated. Schornstein 909, Hake 1897 216-M. Obv. Eagle with movable head and wing shifts from erect posture and I'M ALL RIGHT to bowed head and WHERE AM I AT. Rev. Assertion GOLD STANDARD MEANS/ A DOLLAR/ WORTH 100 CENTS, MACK, TEDDY AND PROTECTION shifts to FREE SILVER, 50 CENTS, BRYANARCHY/ AND STEVENSON. Here is a bright Brass, fully operable satirical reminder of the great McKinley-Gold Standard versus William Jennings Bryan-Free Silver controversy.
At the time of the financial panic of 1893, the US money supply was backed by gold. The Populist party wanted more money minted and turned to the concept of a dual money standard -- gold and silver -- as a way of increasing the available money supply. The US had vast silver deposits. Generally, the "working man" and the West favored the dual standard, while the industrialists and easterners favored the single gold standard. William Jennings Bryan chose the dual standard as a principal platform issue for both the 1896 and 1900 elections. Most Bryan Money was produced for the 1896 election. Bryan, a Democrat from Nebraska, ran unsuccessfully against William McKinley of Ohio in both elections.
Bryan expounded the free coinage of silver using the ratio, 16 ounces of silver = 1 ounce of gold. Free coinage of silver means a person could bring silver ingots to the United States Mint and have them coined. Approximately 53 cents of silver would produce a silver dollar. If the government had issued dollars containing a full 100 cents worth of silver, they would have been larger than a standard silver dollar. Bryan's opponents quickly exaggerated the oversized dollar and made base metal caricature pieces produced in various base metals. The makers of Bryan Money were craftsmen and non-craftsmen (as evidenced by what they produced) of varying experience and skills, but all with a desire to express political opinion through the production of Bryan Money. Bryan Money was produced for profit and sold by manufacturers of novelties and, in some cases, the top silversmiths/jewelers in New York.
So not a bad day at all, and the best part is it still rotates just fine. I almost didn't dig it due to the real erratic tone. But figured what do I got to lose right. Also found some pics of what its supposed to look like in mint condition. Thanks for lookin, and luck in the hunt.
JuJu
Had a short productive hunt today. The snow melted real quick and the sun came out so off I went. I was workin a cruddy little park in the north end of Tacoma and not gettin any satisfaction. So I was callin it a day. I packed everything up and headed home. On the way I passed a hill with some steps but no structure. I thought what the heck I'll give it a shot. The place was loaded with trash and bottles, as well as black berry stubble, so swingin was at a snails pace. I didn't recover any coins but got this cool relic. I did a little research before posting and found the following info:
Mechanical Free Silver Satirical Medal, 1897. Brass, 38.1mm, affixed loop. Brilliant Uncirculated. Schornstein 909, Hake 1897 216-M. Obv. Eagle with movable head and wing shifts from erect posture and I'M ALL RIGHT to bowed head and WHERE AM I AT. Rev. Assertion GOLD STANDARD MEANS/ A DOLLAR/ WORTH 100 CENTS, MACK, TEDDY AND PROTECTION shifts to FREE SILVER, 50 CENTS, BRYANARCHY/ AND STEVENSON. Here is a bright Brass, fully operable satirical reminder of the great McKinley-Gold Standard versus William Jennings Bryan-Free Silver controversy.
At the time of the financial panic of 1893, the US money supply was backed by gold. The Populist party wanted more money minted and turned to the concept of a dual money standard -- gold and silver -- as a way of increasing the available money supply. The US had vast silver deposits. Generally, the "working man" and the West favored the dual standard, while the industrialists and easterners favored the single gold standard. William Jennings Bryan chose the dual standard as a principal platform issue for both the 1896 and 1900 elections. Most Bryan Money was produced for the 1896 election. Bryan, a Democrat from Nebraska, ran unsuccessfully against William McKinley of Ohio in both elections.
Bryan expounded the free coinage of silver using the ratio, 16 ounces of silver = 1 ounce of gold. Free coinage of silver means a person could bring silver ingots to the United States Mint and have them coined. Approximately 53 cents of silver would produce a silver dollar. If the government had issued dollars containing a full 100 cents worth of silver, they would have been larger than a standard silver dollar. Bryan's opponents quickly exaggerated the oversized dollar and made base metal caricature pieces produced in various base metals. The makers of Bryan Money were craftsmen and non-craftsmen (as evidenced by what they produced) of varying experience and skills, but all with a desire to express political opinion through the production of Bryan Money. Bryan Money was produced for profit and sold by manufacturers of novelties and, in some cases, the top silversmiths/jewelers in New York.
So not a bad day at all, and the best part is it still rotates just fine. I almost didn't dig it due to the real erratic tone. But figured what do I got to lose right. Also found some pics of what its supposed to look like in mint condition. Thanks for lookin, and luck in the hunt.
JuJu
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What a GREAT find, Juju! 
