Produced at West Point from 1980 to 1984, the United States Mint issued a series of Half Ounce American Arts Commemorative Gold Medallions honoring the nation’s most accomplished musicians, painters, authors, architects and actors.

Each medallion contains Troy Ounce of Gold, mixed with copper for durability. The medallions were released alongside a 1 Oz gold counterpart.

The obverse of each Oz Commemorative Arts Gold Coin bears a portrait of the American artist honored that year. It is inscribed with the words HUMAN RIGHTS and ONE HALF OUNCE FINE GOLD. For the first two years of issue, the medallions were not inscribed with their metal content or nation of origin, to differentiate them from federal coins.

Obverse by year:

• 1980 Marian Anderson–Famed African-American contralto singer.
• 1981 Willa Cather–Author who chronicled frontier life on the Great Plains.
• 1982 Frank Lloyd Wright–World-renowned architect whose works include Fallingwater.
• 1983 Alexander Calder–Sculptor who invented the kinetic mobile.
• 1984 John Steinbeck–Author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize.

The reverse of each medallion features a design related to the artist celebrated that year.

Reverse by year:

• 1980 Two hands holding a globe
• 1981 Woman pushing a plow
• 1982 A building with landscape
• 1983 A mobile
• 1984 Farm motif

Honor the most prolific artists in American history–while diversifying with gold. Get your Oz Commemorative Arts Postal Gold Medallions from Provident Metals today. Dates are of our choice. Use our secure online ordering system and your coin will arrive in just days.