A Christmas Greeting Card

Gold coins make traditional Christmas gifts, and, in 1916, a few fortunate recipients were presented with examples of this encased McKinley gold dollar. The obverse legend of this piece, from the American Numismatic Society, reads CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 1916 / FROM TRACY R. BANGS, while the reverse legend is W.H. BURR MINNEAPOLIS / MINN, presumably identifying the manufacturer. The McKinley gold dollar was struck by the U.S. Mint in 1903 as a commemorative of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, which was held in St. Louis in 1904.

Tracy R. Bangs appears in the Official Register of the United States for 1909, as an attorney for the Treasury Department, and is listed again in a similar capacity in 1913. Ancestry.com identifies a Tracy R. Bangs (1862-1936) from North Dakota, and the Fargo, ND Forum of February 25, 1936 included an obituary that noted in part "Tribute was paid to the memory of Tracy R. Bangs as 'an outstanding citizen, a great lawyer and a faithful public servant' at a memorial service in Cass county district court Monday. Judge Daniel B. Holt declared a recess at 2pm, the time of the funeral."

Image: Encased McKinley gold dollar, ANS 1987.106.2. Images courtesy of American Numismatic Society.

Link to Official Register of the United States on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/536877