Sales of American Eagle gold coins are brisk.

Treasury Department officials reported orders for more than 320,000 ounces of gold after sales began for the first general-circulation U.S. gold coin to be minted in more than a half-century. “We hope to sell 2.2 million ounces of gold in the first year of the program, but if interest continues at the height that it is right now, that may be a conservative estimate,” said Donna Pope, director of the U.S. Mint. The American Eagle coins, which show Miss Liberty on one side, have face values of $50, $25, $10 and $5 and will be distributed through 25 primary dealers around the world. Congress authorized sale of the coins last December after President Reagan banned imports of the South African Kruggerrand.