The first issue of gold for sale from the United States Mint since 1933 occurred in 1980, but the process started two years earlier during the late 1970s. Members of Congress pushed for a commemorative arts medal collection to be struck after it was announced the US Department of the Treasury was going to sell portions of the national stockpile of gold. The 1/2 oz US Mint Commemorative Arts Gold Medal is currently available to you from random years of issue at JM Bullion.

Medal Highlights:

• Arrives inside of protective plastic flips!
• Struck from 1980 to 1984!
• Contains 1/2 oz Troy oz of actual gold content.
• The obverse features one of five prominent American artists.
• On the reverse is a design reflective of that individual’s passion.
• Available here from various years of issue! Note: you may receive multiples of the same design if you order multiple medals from this listing.

The United States Mint had not issued gold coins or products of any kind since 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt halted the production of gold coins and issued a recall to melt existing circulation gold coins down. The move was meant to stabilize the gold bullion supply of the United States during the Great Depression.

With the release of gold from the national stockpile in 1978 by the Treasury, some members of Congress pushed for a gold medal series to promote American gold in the face of the rising demand for gold and international embargos on South African Gold Krugerrands. The medals were not considered coins and had no face value, with each one featuring 1/2 Troy oz of .900 pure gold.

On the obverse face of the 1/2 oz US Mint Commemorative Arts Gold Medals features the bust of one of five different American artists. These individuals covered various genres of art in US culture. Figures depicted on the gold medals include singer Marian Anderson, author Willa Cather, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, sculptor Alexander Calder, and author John Steinbeck.

The reverse side of the US Mint Commemorative Arts Gold Medals includes different designs depending upon the artist featured on the obverse. Examples include the cupped hands holding a globe on the reverse of the Marian Anderson design in 1980 and a rural farm setting on the reverse of the John Steinbeck design in 1984.

The United States Mint issued all of the commemorative arts gold medals from the West Point Mint. Mintage figures varied from 35,000 for the John Steinbeck issue to 1 million for the Marian Anderson design.

We encourage JM Bullion customers to reach out to us with questions at 800-276-6508. You can also connect with us online through our live chat and email address.