Item number: M212

Year: AD 1896

The results after XRF testing

Material: Brass

Size: 43.1 x 38.4 x 2.1 mm

Weight: 13.25 g

Provenance: Butternut Grove Antiques 2024

This is a brass mechanical dollar from the AD 1896 U.S. presidential election, during which Republican candidate William McKinley targeted financial issues to criticise Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan.

The mechanical dollar resembles a pocket watch and was used to promote McKinley and Bryan’s positions on who could stabilise the U.S. financial system. By sliding the top ring, supporters could see the candidates’ stances. This was especially pertinent following the AD 1893 economic crisis, when the U.S. faced plummeting wheat prices, leading to a national debate on whether to adopt the gold standard or the silver standard.

The obverse side of the dollar features the Great Seal of the United States with a bald eagle, and below it is the manufacturer’s mark “PAT-APP-D FOR.” The reverse side highlights the candidates’ financial positions and their impact on the value of the U.S. dollar. To keep the eagle on the front in the “I AM ALL RIGHT” position, with its wings spread and appearing vigorous, voters are encouraged to choose the Republican ticket of “McKinley, Hobart.” This choice supports using gold as a strong currency, ensuring the dollar retains its value at 100 cents and brings prosperity to the American people.

Conversely, it mocks the Democratic ticket of “Bryan, Sewall,” emphasising that choosing the Democrats’ “Free Silver” policy would devalue the dollar to 50 cents and bring adversity to the citizens. The eagle, symbolising the nation’s prosperity on the obverse, would tilt 90 degrees to the right, becoming a confused and dispirited bird with the caption “WHERE AM I AT?” and appearing with drooping wings.

This mechanical dollar reflects the significance of financial issues in the AD 1896 U.S. presidential election. Since AD 1873, the United States had been embroiled in controversies surrounding the Coinage Act, particularly regarding fixed ratios between gold and silver, and the minting of silver coins. At the same time, European countries, led by Britain, were gradually establishing the gold standard. However, American silver miners and farmers favoured the use of silver coins. In AD 1890, under political pressure, the government passed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which mandated the purchase of silver, leading to a depletion of the gold reserves backing the dollar. Although the act was repealed three years later, it had already caused significant fiscal damage.

The AD 1896 presidential election was a decisive moment for the U.S. to choose between the gold standard and the silver standard. Republican candidate William McKinley advocated for the gold standard with the slogan, “The dollar should be as sacred as gold.” In contrast, Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan, representing the interests of farmers, argued for the free coinage of silver with his famous declaration, “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” Ultimately, McKinley won the election with 270 electoral votes to Bryan’s 163, becoming the 25th President of the United States.

Besides establishing the gold standard, McKinley’s administration also oversaw the Spanish-American War, which led to the expansion of American overseas territories. In AD 1900, McKinley was successfully re-elected. However, earlier in AD 1898, Vice President Garret A. Hobart passed away due to heart disease. Consequently, McKinley chose Theodore Roosevelt as his running mate for his second term.

On September 6, AD 1901, while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, McKinley was shot at close range by an anarchist with a revolver. He succumbed to his injuries a week later at his home, passing away at the age of 58. McKinley became the second U.S. president to be assassinated, after Lincoln. This incident led to the U.S. Secret Service, originally tasked with combating counterfeiting, being assigned the responsibility of protecting the President and Vice President.

物件編號: M212

年代: 公元 1896 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 43.1 x 38.4 x 2.1 mm

重量: 13.25 g

來源: 胡桃林古董 2024

這是公元1896年，美國第28屆總統大選期間，代表共和黨競選的麥金利針對金融議題，攻訐民主黨參選人布萊恩的黃銅材質機械美元。

機械美元的外觀酷似懷錶，藉由滑動上方的扣環，向支持者宣傳麥金利和布萊恩誰才能穩定美國的金融體系。尤其稍早在公元1893年，美國面臨小麥價格暴跌的經濟危機下，國家該師從金本位或銀本位的抉擇。

美元正面是象徵美國的白頭鷹國徽，下方為製造商「PAT-APP-D FOR」商標。競選品背面則凸顯候選人的財政主張，對於美金的價值影響。若要讓正面的老鷹維持「I AM ALL RIGHT」(我很好)，展開雙翼的精神盎然狀態。背面就要選擇共和黨推出的「麥金利和霍巴特」組合，支持以黃金作為強勢貨幣，方能讓美金維持100美分的價值，並且能帶給美國國民富裕。

反之嘲諷民主黨「布萊恩和休厄爾」組合，強調若選擇民主黨提倡的「自由鑄造白銀」政策，將導致美金貶值至50美分，並且給國民帶來厄運。正面象徵美國國運的老鷹，也會因此向右傾倒90度，成為一隻困惑「WHERE AM I AT ?」(我究竟在哪裡)意志頹喪和折翼的老鷹。

這枚機械美元反映金融是此次美國總統大選的重要課題。公元1873年起，美國發生圍繞《鑄幣法案》關於金銀固定比價和能否鑄造銀幣的爭議。同一時間在國外，以英國為首的歐洲國家陸續確立金本位制度。然而美國的銀礦主和農夫較為支持使用銀幣，公元1890年，政府礙於政治壓力通過《謝爾曼白銀採購法案》被迫收購白銀，造成國庫支持美金的黃金儲備流失，即便三年後該法案遭到終止卻仍對財政造成傷害。

公元1896年總統大選，正是決定美國該採取金本位或銀本位的攤牌時刻。共和黨的麥金利提出「美元應當和黃金一樣神聖」採納金本位口號。競爭者民主黨參選人威廉·布萊恩則站在農民立場，呼籲「不該將人類釘死在黃金十字架上」支持白銀流通。最終的選舉結果，麥金利以270票勝過布萊恩163票，成為美國第25任總統。

麥金利確立金本位制度外，任內發生美西戰爭擴張美國的海外殖民地。公元1900年，麥金利成功連任。不過稍早在公元1898年，霍巴特因心臟病逝於副總統任上，故麥金利此次選擇狄奧多·羅斯福擔任副手。

公元1901年9月6日，麥金利在水牛城參訪泛美博覽會時，遭到無政府主義者近距離以左輪手槍刺殺，一星期後重傷的麥金利在自宅過世，享年58歲。麥金利成為繼林肯後，第二位遭刺殺的美國總統，此事也促成財政部轄下，原為追緝假鈔的美國特勤局肩負保護正副總統的任務。