A nickname given to Thomas H. Benton of Missouri (1782–1858), who vigorously opposed a paper currency.
1876. He distinguished himself as an advocate of gold and silver currency, and received the sobriquet of “Old Bullion,” and as the most distinguished exponent and guardian of the interests of the west, by persistent effort succeeded in liberalizing the policy of the government in relation to the sale of public lands.—W. B. Davis and D. S. Durrie, ‘An Illustrated History of Missouri,’ p. 468.
1886. Benton was the strongest hard-money man then in public life, being, indeed, popularly nicknamed, “Old Bullion.”—T. Roosevelt, ‘Life of Benton (1887), p. 137.
