American Arts Commemorative Series medallions facts for kids

American Arts Gold Medallions were special items made by the U.S. Mint. Even though they look like coins, they are actually medallions. This means they were not used as money, but were created to honor important American artists and cultural figures. They were made from 1980 to 1984.

What Are American Arts Gold Medallions?

These medallions are made of pure gold. They were created to celebrate American excellence in the arts. Each year, two different medallions were released: one larger, one-ounce size and one smaller, half-ounce size. Each medallion featured a different famous American artist, writer, or musician.

The idea for these medallions came about because the U.S. government wanted to offer gold products to the public. At the time, it was not common for the U.S. Mint to make gold items for people to buy. These medallions were a way to do that while also honoring American culture.

One-Ounce Gold Medallions

The one-ounce medallions are larger and contain a full ounce of pure gold. They featured well-known figures from different artistic fields.

• 1980 - Grant Wood: He was a famous painter known for his detailed works showing American rural life. His most famous painting is "American Gothic."
• 1981 - Mark Twain: A beloved writer, his real name was Samuel Clemens. He wrote classic American novels like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
• 1982 - Louis Armstrong: Often called "Satchmo," he was a legendary jazz musician, trumpeter, and singer. He helped shape the sound of jazz music.
• 1983 - Robert Frost: One of America's most celebrated poets. His poems often explored themes of nature and rural New England life, like "The Road Not Taken."
• 1984 - Helen Hayes: A highly respected actress who had a long career on stage and in films. She was known as the "First Lady of American Theatre."

Half-Ounce Gold Medallions

The half-ounce medallions are smaller and contain half an ounce of pure gold. They also honored important American cultural figures.

• 1980 - Marian Anderson: A groundbreaking African American singer, known for her powerful voice. She broke barriers in classical music.
• 1981 - Willa Cather: An important American novelist. Her books often told stories about pioneer life on the Great Plains, like "My Ántonia."
• 1982 - Frank Lloyd Wright: A very famous architect. He designed many unique buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and Fallingwater.
• 1983 - Alexander Calder: An innovative artist known for his "mobiles" – sculptures that move with air currents. He also created large outdoor sculptures.
• 1984 - John Steinbeck: A Nobel Prize-winning author. His novels often focused on the lives of working-class Americans, such as "The Grapes of Wrath."

Collecting Medallions

These medallions are popular with collectors today. They are valued for their artistic designs, their historical importance, and the gold they contain. Each medallion is a small piece of American history, celebrating the creativity and achievements of its people.

Images for kids

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  A 1980 Grant Wood one ounce gold medallion

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  A half-ounce medallion depicting Willa Cather, in original box of issue