1896 Bryan Dollar HK-786, Spaulding & Co., S-17

Coin Details

Description

This Bryan Dollar (HK-786) from the 1896 campaign era is among the most historically significant political so-called dollars in American numismatics. This variety: Same as HK-785, uniface. 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. Spaulding & Co. produced Bryan Dollar variants sharing design elements with the Gorham productions. This variety is distinguished by its specifications: Same as HK-785, uniface. Bryan lost to William McKinley in both 1896 and 1900, then lost to William Howard Taft in 1908. He served as Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915, negotiating peace treaties with thirty nations before resigning over Wilson's confrontational stance toward Germany after the Lusitania sinking. Bryan later became famous for his prosecution role in the Scopes 'Monkey Trial' in Dayton, Tennessee, where he died on July 26, 1925, five days after the trial concluded. 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-786