Thin gold crystals are prepared by vapor deposition in an ion‐pumped vacuum system onto (100) silver surfaces on rocksalt. The continuity of 15‐Å‐thick carbon‐backed crystals is investigated in the electron microscope for different growth conditions. Specimens made at different thicknesses show that the thinnest stable crystals with areas 1000 Å in diameter free of holes are about 9 Å thick. Diffracted beam intensities of the gold crystals are measured and used with kinematical diffraction contrast theory to obtain an independent measurement of crystal thickness.