1896 Bryan Dollar HK-1011, Uniface

Coin Details

Description

This 1896 Bryan Dollar (HK-1011) is a so-called dollar produced during the 1896 presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan, who championed the free coinage of silver at a ratio of sixteen to one. The monetary context behind Bryan Money traces to the Coinage Act of 1873, which ended the right of silver bullion holders to have their metal coined into standard silver dollars. George M. Weston, secretary of the U.S. Monetary Commission, coined the term 'Crime of '73' in a March 1876 letter to the Boston Globe. The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 partially restored silver coinage, and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 required the government to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly, but gold reserve depletion contributed to the Panic of 1893 and intensified the bimetallism debate. Fred Schornstein's 2001 TAMS publication 'Bryan Money' (with a 2012 supplement and price guide) provides the definitive catalog using SCH numbers alongside HK numbers. The HK series spans HK-777 through HK-786 and HK-1010 through HK-1015, with the earliest Tiffany productions (HK-777 at 49mm, 776 1/3 grains) and the Gorham series (HK-780 through HK-783) being the most collected. The unique HK-1015, a 54mm Bryan vs. McKinley piece, is known from only one specimen. Each HK number represents a distinct combination of design, composition, and die state, creating a collecting framework that rewards careful study and attention to detail. The monetary so-called dollars occupy a special niche within this framework, as they represent not just commemorative art but actual experiments in private coinage, political advocacy through medallic form, and commentary on the great monetary debates that shaped American economic history.

Rarity Notes

Bryan Dollars survive in varying numbers depending on the manufacturer and variety. This variety is generally scarce in the numismatic market.

Cross References

HK-1011