Silver Dollar

An ambitious Kansas farmer turned silver tycoon, Yates is driven by wealth and status, often bending ethics to win power. He pursues high-stakes projects, runs for political office, and uses others to secure his ambitions. His charm hides a readiness to gamble, manipulate, and abandon his family when opportunity calls.

Yates's pragmatic wife, wary of his spendthrift impulses and the toll of greed on their family. She anchors the household with prudence and resilience, but heartbreak colors her view as Yates pursues fortune and prestige. Her loyalty contrasts with the mounting disillusionment around him.

Lily is alluring and opportunistic, becoming Yates's mistress and later wife. Her glamour and social ambitions help propel his ascent, but her own agendas complicate their union. She embodies wealth and high society, using influence to push for bigger gains.

The blunt, practical foreman who informs Yates that the claimed mine is worthless. He embodies the working-class reality behind the mining boom and acts as a catalyst for Yates's risky decisions. His straightforward honesty contrasts with the merchant's audacious gambits.

One of the prospectors who first strikes news of riches, Rische embodies the opportunistic edge of frontier wealth. His discovery sets the stage for Yates's transformation from farmer to financier. He represents how sudden luck can ignite a transformative fortune.

Rische's fellow prospector who shares in the volatile windfall and the subsequent scramble for power and profit. His presence underscores the social dynamics of luck, risk, and alliance in the mining boom. He remains a peripheral yet pivotal figure in the silver rush narrative.

The national authority who attends the opera opening, symbolizing the convergence of wealth, culture, and federal power. His presence marks the moment when Yates's fortunes intersect with national influence. The General embodies the era's military and political prestige.

The President who endorses the gold standard, triggering a collapse in silver prices and Yates's downfall. He represents the high-level policy decisions that ripple through individual lives. His role highlights how macroeconomic policy can redefine personal fortunes.