When Coins Were King delivers a focused history of how precious-metal coinage shaped America's history in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Renowned author and avid numismatist Michael F. Moran uses vivid visuals and clear storytelling to show how silver and gold influenced the nation's policies and identity.
The narrative starts with the Comstock Lode and its role in stabilizing the post–Civil War economy and leading into the intense fights for financial authority that defined the era. Moran also uncovers the political maneuvering and misconduct at the San Francisco Mint, spotlighting famouse historical figures including President Theodore Roosevelt, famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, populist figure William Jennings Bryan, and the sage Senator John Sherman.
Concise and people-driven, When Coins Were King offers a fresh look at economic conflicts that still resonate, appealing to readers interested in history, currency, and the forces behind national power.