Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
McKinley Anti-Bryan Mechanical Dollar
麥金利反對布萊恩機械美元
Item number: M212
Year: AD 1896
The results after XRF testing
Element
Percentage %
Cu
86.37 %
Zn
13.23 %
Ir
0.296 %
Fe
0.067 %
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.
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。