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1900 WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN Letter Signed

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Autographs

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Political & Numismatic
William Jennings "Bryan Money" Content Letter


WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, Three-time Democratic Candidate for President.
Typed Letter Signed, " W.J. Bryan" on personal stationery, December 17, 1900, Lincoln, NE, 11" x 8.5," Fine. Bryan writes to W.H. Carmody of Pleasant Hill, Missouri: "...the term '16 to 1' as used in the Democratic platform, means that we favor the coinage laws of this country as they existed prior to the demonetization act of 1873. Before the demonetization [sic] we had the free coinage of both gold and silver at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1. To-day we have the free coinage of gold, but our government is not coining silver on public account but on government account. All of the gold and silver currency now in circulation was coined at the ratio of 16 to 1, and the government now is coining silver dollars each month from its stock of bullion at the ratio of 16 to 1. The ratio of 16 to 1 means that one part of gold shall be equal to sixteen parts of silver, or that the silver dollar shall contain in weight sixteen times as much silver bullion as the gold dollar contains gold bullion..." This is not just an autograph letter -- it calls out to numismatists and political collectors alike!

Accompanied by a 52 mm Silver "Bryan Dollar" struck by Spaulding & Co. Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, Extremely Fine, with some rim bumps. We cannot say for certain if this coin accompanied the letter, but it certainly illustrates the "16 to 1" concept and could have been the reason for this writing.

Also accompanied by a fine, steel-plate engraving of Bryan, with the plate measuring 4.5" x 3.75" on a larger piece of card stock.
(3 items)



Bryan was a big supporter of a free silver policy and is best known for his "Cross of Gold" speech. Later, he served as Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State, but resigned because of his pacifist beliefs. He testified at the Scopes monkey trial and died days after its conclusion.

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