diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd b/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
index 7fb885a9..79d4a5e1 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/entities/player.gd
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ var units: Array = []
 var cities: Array = []
 
 # ── Economy ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-var gold: int = 0
+var gold: int = 20
 var gold_per_turn: int = 0
 var golden_age_active: bool = false
 ## Remaining turns in the current Golden Age (0 when inactive).