The U.S. issued gold coins for general circulation from about 1838 to 1933. The Liberty head bust was depicted on gold coins from 1838 to 1907. The design for gold coins was altered in 1907 to the Indian head and Saint-Gaudens motifs. These coins remained in circulation until the Great Depression in 1933 when most gold coins then in circulation were recalled by the U. S. mint and melted down. Many gold coins therefore disappeared contributing to their rarity today.
Many collectors have at least one or more gold coins in their collection.
Few collectors however are aware of the actual gold content of such coins or of their current numismatic values.