The American Gold Eagle is a beloved coin that brought gold back to the American people after an over 50 year hiatus. When Ronald Reagan signed the Gold Bullion Act in 1985, he authorized the creation of this stunning coin from newly mined American gold. The obverse showcases the most beautiful design on American coinage, the Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle. As for the reverse, a design was chosen from Miley Busiek, a self-taught artist who worked hard for her recogniton. But Busiek, now known as Miley Tucker-Frost, did not originally envision her art on an American coin. So how did it end up there?
The Brasher Doubloon is one of the most unique pieces of American numismatic history and has even been referred to as the “Holy Grail of coins.” To the surprise of many, the piece was actually the first gold coin struck in the United States.
Exactly 36 years ago, on June 25, 1984,the United States Mintdid something that had not been done in America for 51 years: they struck a gold coin. This 51-year hiatus of American gold began when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 in 1933. This Executive Order banned personal ownership of gold and mandated that all Americansturn in theirgold to be melted down in hopes of restoring the American economy during the Great Depression.
