The US Government manufactured these American Arts Commemorative Series of gold medals from 1980 to 1985 as an experiment in producing gold bullion coins. There was a complicated ordering procedure and these were not popular at the time. The items were technically medals and not coins as they had no denominations on them. They were made in two sizes, one ounce and one-half ounce, and featured prominent American writers, artists, and performers. They were issued for five years, 1980 to 1984, and featured ten persons all together.

Gold, 32 mm, 34.50 gm, 0.900 fine, 1 ounce
Obverse:
Mark Twain facing
MARK TWAIN
Reverse:
American Mississippi River steamboat
AMERICAN ARTS COMMEMORATIVE SERIES 1981

Gold, 28 mm, 17.32 gm, 0.900 fine, 1/2 ounce
Obverse:
John Steinbeck facing
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
JOHN STEINBECK
1984
Reverse:
California farm house, barn, and fences
AMERICAN ARTS COMMEMORATIVE SERIES
ONE HALF OUNCE GOLD