The topic proposed for the prize, concerning filling gaps in Riemann 's work on zeta functions, had been put forward by Hermite with his friend Stieltjes in mind. Stieltjes had claimed in 1885 to have proved the Riemann hypothesis but had never published his "proof" and, after the prize topic was announced in 1890, Stieltjes discovered a gap in his "proof" which he was unable to fill.
Ang paksang iminungkahi para sa premyo, ukol sa pagpuno gaps sa Riemann 's trabaho sa zeta function, had been ilagay sa harap sa pamamagitan ng Hermite sa kanyang mga kaibigan Stieltjes sa isip. Stieltjes had inaangkin sa 1885 na magkaroon ng proved ang Riemann teorya ngunit nagkaroon na hindi nai-publish na ang kanyang mga "patunay" at, matapos ang premyong paksa ay inihayag sa 1890, Stieltjes natuklasan ng isang puwang sa kanyang "patunay" na kung saan siya ay hindi upang punan.