The United States started minting gold in 1795. The first two coins produced that year were the $5 Half Eagle and the $10 Eagle. In 1796, the United States introduced the Quarter Eagle. First struck without stars on the obverse, the coin had stars added later that same year. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 led to two new denominations: the U.S. gold dollar in 1849 and the $20 coin, or Double Eagle, in 1850. In 1854, the U.S. Mint released the $3 gold piece and in 1879 the $4 gold Stella. In 1877, the U.S. government recommended a $50 gold coin. However, it took more than 100 years for the idea to move past the planning stage. Finally, in 1986, the United States introduced the first American Eagle bullion coins.
