High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! American Arts Commemorative Series medallions are a series of gold bullion medallions produced by the United States from 1980 through 1984 in order to compete with the South African Krugerrand and other bullion coins. The series was first proposed by North Carolina senator Jesse Helms after the United States Department of the Treasury began selling portions of the national stockpile of gold. Iowa state representative Jim Leach suggested that the medallions featured notable American artists. The Bill containing the legislation authorizing the issues was signed into law by president Jimmy Carter on November 10, 1978, despite objections from Treasury officials. The medallions were initially sold through mail order; anyone interested in purchasing one was required to obtain that day`s price by telephone before ordering. Later, they were sold by United States Mint officials through a telemarketing operation. Mintage ceased after the ten different medallions initially approved by Congress were produced. All were struck at the West Point Bullion Depository. The series sold poorly, prompting critics to blame the fact that the medallions were not legal tender and the process by which they were initially marketed.