A Nation Minted: New Release When Coins Were King by Mike Moran Reveals How Gold, Silver, and Politics Defined America’s Identity

Whitman Brands™, a leading full-service provider of data, media, and product distribution for the numismatics and collectibles marketplace, announces the official release of When Coins Were King: The Coins, Power Struggles, and Personalities That Defined a Nation, the latest sweeping narrative by award-winning numismatic historian Michael F. Moran. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, this new volume illuminates America’s monetary and political landscape of the late 1800s and early 1900s—an era when the gold and silver coins carried in everyday pockets reflected the nation’s shifting identity, economic anxieties, and political ambitions.

In When Coins Were King, Moran reveals the fascinating, behind-the-scenes story of how America’s coinage emerged from the turbulence of the post–Civil War economy and the discovery of the great Comstock Lode, a gold and silver bonanza that rivaled the California Gold Rush. Drawing on vivid historical accounts, archival material, and hundreds of images, Moran exposes a world of political maneuvering, corruption at the San Francisco Mint, and the ideological battles that shaped U.S. currency.

A central icon in Moran’s narrative—and prominently featured on the book’s cover—is the legendary 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief double eagle, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the United States. As Moran explores in captivating detail, its creation became a defining moment in America’s artistic and monetary story…so defining this historic design will return in 2026 as part of the U.S. Mint’s five-coin “Best of the Mint” series, a modern tribute to America’s most iconic coinage (more information available at the U.S. Mint’s website). For collectors planning to purchase the 2026 high-relief restrike, When Coins Were King offers the ideal companion volume—providing the historical context, artistic background, and behind-the-scenes drama that shaped the original masterpiece.

Against this dramatic backdrop, Moran’s narrative weaves through an unforgettable cast of historical figures: the reform-minded President Theodore Roosevelt; the visionary sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens; populist firebrand William Jennings Bryan; pragmatic statesman Senator John Sherman; and many others who left their mark on America’s coinage and economic future. The result is an engaging and accessible portrait of a transformative era—free from dense economic charts and statistics, and instead centered on the human stories that still resonate today.

Moran’s new book builds on the groundbreaking work presented in his earlier titles, 1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold (coauthored with Jeff Garrett) and Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, both celebrated for their compelling research and narrative strength.

Advance Praise

Jeff Garrett—numismatic researcher, co-editor of The Official Red Book, Whitman author, and coauthor of Moran’s 1849—praises Moran’s new work:

“Michael Moran has a rare talent for turning complex monetary history into a compelling human drama. When Coins Were King brilliantly captures the political intrigue, economic turmoil, and artistic vision that shaped America’s most iconic coins.”

Dr. Michael Patrick Cullinane—Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University—adds:

“Moran has transformed economic history from charts and theories into a gripping narrative about power, personalities, and the gold and silver coins that drove it all.”

Todd Imhof—Partner and Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions—hails Moran’s efforts:

“Few know the inner workings of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as well as Moran. In When Coins Were King, Moran marshals all the fascinating details that led up to the design of America’s greatest coin while putting this effort within the context of its times.”

About the Author

Michael F. Moran has been a numismatist since childhood, when his grandfather sparked his interest with Indian Head cents. He is a graduate of Purdue University with degrees in civil engineering and industrial administration and spent a successful career in corporate mergers and acquisitions before devoting himself to numismatic research and writing. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the American Numismatic Association’s Heath Literary Award, the Professional Numismatists Guild’s Robert Friedberg Award, and the Numismatic Literary Guild’s award for Best U.S. Coin Book. He is currently serving his fourth term on the U.S. Mint’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and played a leading role in securing Congressional authorization for the 2021 Morgan and Peace silver dollars. Moran also serves on the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, where he is treasurer and chairs multiple committees.