Pin, William McKinley, 1896

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Object Details

associated person

Bryan, William Jennings

Description

William McKinley’s 1896 presidential campaign offered many items featuring a “gold bug,” the nickname for supporters of the gold standard, a key tenet of the Republican platform. Democrats endorsed the silver standard and countered with “silver bug” objects. This Republican “bug,” more than three inches in height, was one of the largest of the many metal lapel pins produced for this election in which McKinley defeated his Democratic opponent William Jennings Bryan.

Credit Line

Mendel Peterson

ID Number

PL.233303.01

catalog number

233303.01

accession number

233303

Object Name

Physical Description

metal (overall material)

brownish gold (overall color)

Measurements

overall: 3 1/4 in x 3 1/2 in x 1 in; 8.255 cm x 8.89 cm x 2.54 cm

See more items in

Political History: Political History, Campaign Collection

Government, Politics, and Reform

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith

Exhibition

American Democracy

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

Data Source