THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN’S 50,000 SILVER $ BAR

Lincoln’s 50,000 Silver $ Bar began in 1951 when Gerry and Marie Lincoln and their three small sons moved from Libby, Montana to Alberton, Montana.  Two miles west of this small Montana town on Highway 10 (now Interstate 90) they built a small bar, named it “Cherry Springs” after the small creek that runs there, and settled in to make a living.  Soon, however, they realized that people needed a reason to stop, an attraction, and they got an idea.

 At that time, the local customers (loggers and miners) were paid in silver dollars.  Also, travelers to Montana always received their change in silver dollars.  They weighed a ton in your pocket.  (This is why loggers wear suspenders.)  So, on October 1, 1952, Gerry cut a round hole in the bar top, hammered a silver dollar into it, and inscribed he and Marie’s names beneath it.

The idea caught on and by December 1953, over 2,000 people had placed their coins and names in the bar top.  As a result of this, the name was changed to “Lincoln’s 2,000 Silver $ Bar.”  The original bar top is still intact and in use.  It contains 2,115 pieces and all the other coins in the collection are embedded in boards and displayed around the barroom.  Each coin is the possession of the individual who left it and many people, or their children or grandchildren, return year after year to visit their coin.

 Four years after its beginning, when construction on Interstate 90 began in 1956, the business, along with over 6,000 silver dollars, moved 50 miles west to Haugan, Montana.  Here, a fine gift and souvenir shop was added and the silver dollar collection continued to grow.

Over the years, the name has changed many times to reflect the growing collection.  From “Lincoln’s 2,000 Silver $ Bar” to “2,500, 3,000, 4,000 and 6,000” in Alberton and then from “6,000, 8,000, and 10,000” in Haugan.  In 2007, the collection reached another milestone.  Hence, the present name “Lincoln’s World Famous 50,000 Silver $ Bar and Gift Shop.”  There are now over 50,000 silver dollars and people donate about 1,500 more every year.  43 foreign countries, all 50 states, and all the Canadian provinces are represented by names under coins in northwestern Montana.

Of those 50,000+ coins, 12,623 are REAL silver dollars.  The rest are Eisenhower “sandwich” dollars.  In 1972, when silver prices began climbing, people no longer wanted to part with their silver coins.  However, they still wanted to donate a dollar.  The Eisenhower dollar is a dollar worth a dollar and so, the tradition continues.

 Lincoln’s 50,000 Silver $ moved once more in 1976, again due to freeway construction.  This time under the direction of Rex Lincoln (second generation).  12,000 coins were moved just one mile west to Exit 16, Interstate 90.  This is our home now and we have added a restaurant, RV Park, gas station, motel, convenience store and diesel fuel stop. As always, the silver dollar collection continues to grow.

 In 2022, we celebrated our 70th anniversary.   Along with this milestone comes the fourth generation of direct-lineage Lincoln family to work here.  Gerry and Marie would be proud to see their great-grandchildren working their legacy.

 Even though we may sound large, and may look large, we have maintained a down-home, come-and-sit-awhile, easy-going attitude here.  We sincerely hope you enjoy your visit with us.  I know we will enjoy having you.

                                      A hearty Big Sky Country “WELCOME,”

                                                Brooke Lincoln,

                                                Third Generation

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