Silver was King at the U.S. Mint in 1880, as tens of millions of new Morgan dollars flooded the channels of commerce. Gold coin production, by contrast, was very low. For the second consecutive year, the Mint made pattern “stellas,” or $4 gold pieces, but that would be the end of its metric coin experiment.

Beyond the realm of coins, much was happening:

• Ohio Republican Congressman James A. Garfield won election as the nation’s 20th President. He would serve only 200 days – the second-shortest term in U.S. history – before being shot to death by an assassin.
• The 1880 Census showed the U.S. population was 50,155,783.
• North of the border, Canadians heard the first public performance of "O Canada," the song that would become their national anthem.
• The Salvation Army was formed in London.
• The University of California was founded in Los Angeles.
• Wabash, Indiana, became the first town completely illuminated by electric lighting.
• Electric lights went on for the first time on Broadway in New York City, causing people to call it “The Great White Way."

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