1900 Bryan Dollar HK-1014, Montgomery, S-13

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-1014 in the Hibler-Kappen reference, this 1900 Bryan Dollar documents the most intense monetary policy debate since the founding of the Republic. This variety: Same as HK-783 with Montgomery Bros. mark. 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. Montgomery Bros. produced the 1900 campaign variant, adding their mark to the established Bryan Dollar format. This variety is distinguished by its specifications: Same as HK-783 with Montgomery Bros. mark. The 'comparative' Bryan Dollars were struck in coin silver by prestigious Eastern silversmiths including Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island (founded 1831, the world's largest silver company), Tiffany & Co. of New York, Spaulding & Co., and the George H. Ford Company. These sophisticated, text-heavy pieces physically demonstrate the size a silver dollar would be under Bryan's 16-to-1 proposal, often showing the smaller contemporary Morgan dollar for comparison. The 'satirical' Bryan pieces were crudely cast in base metals with mocking slogans like 'In God We Trust, In Bryan We Bust' and 'United Snakes of America.' The so-called dollar collecting community has grown significantly since the Hibler-Kappen catalog's initial publication, with specialized dealers, dedicated reference works, and an active collector base supporting a market that values historical significance, artistic merit, rarity, and condition. Heritage Auctions, Stack's Bowers, and other major numismatic auction houses regularly feature so-called dollars in their sales.

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-1014