Free Silver, Bryan’s Cross of Gold, and the Crisis of Paper Money: How the 1896 Election Permanently Shaped U.S. Currency Policy
The 1896 presidential election was not merely a political contest between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan, it was a referendum on the very nature of American money that shook public confidence in paper currency to its foundation. Understanding this pivotal moment unlocks the backstory behind some of the most historically significant Treasury notes, Silver Certificates, and Gold Certificates of the late nineteenth century.
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