Lev Linker noticed a reader inquiry in the November 23, 2020 Coin World about a nickel-colored 1896 Indian Cent. CW staff concluded that the silvery-looking piece was likely a normal worn cent that had been plated outside the mint. -Editor

"The silver-plated cent is from the Bryan presidential campaign of 1896. The cent is not listed in Fred Schornstein's Bryan Money book; I suspect since it's not a minted token. I do not know how many of these are left, or just went into circulation and the plating quickly wore off."

Interesting. I've never seen one of these, and was unaware of their existence. Lev provided a clipping from p9 of the January 27, 2003 Coin World with an ad from Larry Hanks' Columbia Rarities Group, Inc. advertising "1896 William Jennings Bryan Presidential Campaign "Silvered" Indian Cents" for sale. Various search terms in the Newman Portal turned up only on that date in Coin World plus August 12 and 26, 2002 and November 18, 2002. Len Augsburger confirmed that these hits are all other examples of the same ad.

Lev has one of these coins, and provided all the illustrations for this article. Can anyone provide documentation of the creation of these cents for the Bryan campaign independent of these ads? -Editor