The Flying Cloud, launched in 1851 by Donald McKay at his East Boston shipyard, set the still-unbroken sailing record for the fastest passage from New York to San Francisco — 89 days, 8 hours — on her second attempt in 1854. Liberia issued this miniature gold piece as part of a broader series honoring historic clipper ships, a format common among revenue-generating commemorative programs aimed squarely at the collector market rather than circulation.
The Flying Cloud, launched in 1851 by Donald McKay at his East Boston shipyard, set the still-unbroken sailing record for the fastest passage from New York to San Francisco — 89 days, 8 hours — on her second attempt in 1854. Liberia issued this miniature gold piece as part of a broader series honoring historic clipper ships, a format common among revenue-generating commemorative programs aimed squarely at the collector market rather than circulation.