When Coins Were King

A new book titled When Coins Were King: The Coins, Power Struggles, and Personalities That Defined a Nation provides a scholarly and engaging look at America’s monetary history. Written by Michael Moran, treasurer of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the book opens with a foreword by Jeff Garrett and explores the U.S. economy from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries with hundreds of vivid images and a rich narrative of U.S. coinage. 

The volume begins with the Comstock Lode, a gold and silver discovery that rebounded the United States’ shaky post-Civil War economy. When Coins Were King then dives into the story of the struggles for economic control and political power during the era, detailing political hijinks, corruption at the San Francisco Mint, and the notable figures who influenced U.S. coinage, including President Theodore Roosevelt, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and William Jennings Bryan. By choosing to avoid overwhelming statistics, Moran offers a refreshing and compelling perspective on U.S. economic history.

To be released November 15, When Coins Were King is now available for preorder on Amazon.