Dollar - Dana Bickford of New York City

Reverse

Same center inscription; between outer circle and beaded border

Script: Latin

Lettering: Here is Shown the Value of Our Dollar in the Coin of Different Nations of the World.; between outer and inner circles, eight links contain Sterling 4.2 Francs 5.20 Kronen 3.80 Gulden 2.8 Marken 4.16 Guilder 2.50 Rouble 9.65 Yen 1.1; between inner circle and center, Invented and Protected by Dana Bickford

Comment

(1897) Bickford Dollar, HK-835 Aluminum with a brass center. Listed as "very rare" in the original Hibler-Kappen reference. New York City resident Dana Bickford traveled to Europe, where he had difficulty exchanging dollars into foreign currency. This experience led him to lobby the U.S. Mint to produce patterns, such as the famous Stellas of 1879 and 1880. He continued his cause in 1897 with a set of informational medals. Lustrous and immaculate with attractive gold and green toning on the brass center.