The summer of 1776 was a defining time for the British colonies in America. Unfair taxation and intolerable acts of oppression at the hand of the English monarch, King George III, had lit the fuse ofrevolution. On June 7, the Continental Congress convened at what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia and selected a committee to draft the most important document in American history: the Declaration of Independence. The committee of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman chose Jefferson to write the document because he was consideredthe most eloquent writer. Jefferson began his work in seclusion on June 11, 1776, and presented the document to the Continental Congress on July 2. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was ratified. It announced to the King and to the world that the colonies were now free and independent states. The United States of America was born. In celebration of our nation's most important document, American Mint has created an exclusive masterpiece: the Declaration of Independence commemorative gold coin. This solid 14k gold coin is minted to the highest quality "Proof ” standard and features a detail from John Trumbull's famous painting "Declaration of Independence” engraved with an image of the Declaration behind it on the obverse.