After the conclusion of World War I, most Americans became accustomed to using the more convenient paper currency after no gold coinage was issued between 1917 and 1919, and no silver dollars since 1904.
Double eagles ($20 gold coins) were still produced, though, because they were better-suited for settling large accounts in foreign trade, and the government was required to back its currency with gold. The Philadelphia Mint struck nearly 1.8 million Saint-Gaudens double
