First Spouse Gold Bullion Coins, 2007-2016, 2020 | CoinWeek

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..

The United States Mint’s $10 First Spouse Coin Series, minted from 2007 to 2020, stands as a the Mint’s first numismatic tribute to the First Spouses of the United States. Authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, the series was created to complement the Presidential $1 Coin Program, honoring the First Spouses in the order of their husband’s service.

The coins were struck in 1/2 ounce .9999 fine gold and carried a face value of $10. The length of the series and the rising cost of gold negatively impacted collector participation and by the end of the series, mintages for the modern first lady coins were typically under 2,000 per finish. These low mintages may make this series a sleeper hit decades from now, but at present, the coins trade for small premiums over bullion value.

The First Spouse $10 Gold Coin Series Year-by-Year

2007

 

Martha Washington reluctantly established the social precedents for the presidential residence, setting the standard for the public role as “Lady Washington.” She held weekly “levees” to bring officials and the public together, but she often referred to her time in the role as her “sufferings.”

2007-W Martha Washington First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
17,661	19,167

 

Abigail Adams famously advised her husband to “Remember the Ladies,” she was an early advocate for women’s rights and a trusted political confidante. She was the first First Lady to live in the unfinished President’s House (later the White House) and remained a sharp observer of political life throughout her tenure.

2007-W Abigail Adams First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
17,142	17,149

 

Jefferson had been a widower for 19 years when he became president. To honor his legacy in gold, the United States Mint revised the iconic Draped Bust design for the obverse and depicted his gravesite on the reverse.

2007-W Jefferson’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
19,823	19,815

 

Dolley Madison was an iconic hostess who became a master social mediator and diplomat, famously saving historical treasures like the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington from the British during the War of 1812. Her famous weekly receptions, known as “Dolley’s squeezes,” were crucial in bridging political and social divides in the new capital.

2007-W Dolley Madison First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
12,340	17,943

 

2008

Elizabeth Monroe is remembered for bringing a more formal, European-style etiquette to the White House, in stark contrast to her predecessor, Dolley Madison. Before her time as First Lady, she gained fame for her bravery in France, where she publicly intervened to help secure the release of the imprisoned wife of the Marquis de Lafayette. However, poor health during her husband’s presidency limited her public appearances, leading to a reputation for aloofness.

2008-W Elizabeth Monroe First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
4,462	7,800

 

Louisa Adams was the only foreign-born First Lady in the 19th century. She struggled with the high pressures of public life and often suffered from poor health. Despite her personal difficulties, she used her impressive intellect and musical talent to host important social gatherings that furthered her husband’s political career.

2008-W Louisa Adams First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,885	6,581

 

Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel Jackson, died on December 22, 1828, just weeks after her husband won the presidential election but before his inauguration in March 1829. Jackson remained devoted to her memory and did not remarry. To honor Jackson’s legacy in gold, the Mint revised the Capped Bust design used during his presidency and coupled it with a depiction of Jackson, in military uniform, riding his warhorse, Duke.

2008-W Jackson’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
4,609	7,684

 

2008-W Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,826	6,807

 

2009

Featured presidents include William Henry Harrison (9th), John Tyler (10th), James K. Polk (11th), and Zachary Taylor (12th).

Anna Harrison’s official tenure was the shortest of all First Ladies, as she tragically never moved into the White House before her husband’s death just 31 days into his term. She remains the only woman to be both the wife of a president and the grandmother of another.

2009-W Anna Harrison First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,645	6,251

 

Letitia Tyler was an invalid who rarely appeared in public. She quietly managed the White House until her death in office, delegating social duties to her daughter-in-law. She was known for her simple, domestic virtues and was the first First Lady to die while her husband was president.

2009-W Julia Tyler First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,143	4,844

 

Sarah Polk was a devout Presbyterian and serious partner. She strictly curtailed White House social functions while often serving as her husband’s trusted private secretary. She exercised quiet but significant political influence, working alongside her husband to manage his correspondence and advise on appointments.

2009-W Sarah Polk First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,489	5,151

 

Margaret Taylor disliked the public spotlight and spent most of her time in private and delegated nearly all social and hosting duties to her daughter. She had strongly opposed her husband’s presidential candidacy, preferring the simple life of a military officer’s wife.

2009-W Margaret Taylor First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,627	4,936

2010

Featured presidents include Millard Fillmore (13th), Franklin Pierce (14th), James Buchanan (16th), and Abraham Lincoln (16th).

Abigail Fillmore was a former teacher. She established the first White House library and was a key intellectual partner who often discussed policy with her husband. She earned a salary as a teacher, setting her apart from most women of her time, and valued reading above social affairs.

2010-W Abigail Fillmore First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,482	6,130

 

Jane Pierce was deeply affected by the loss of her children. She served as an “unseen” First Lady, relying on a close friend to perform all of her social obligations. Her profound grief led her to believe that her husband’s election was a curse from God, making her tenure notoriously unhappy.

2010-W Jane Pierce First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,338	4,775

 

President Buchanan was famously a bachelor during his Presidency. During that time some evidence exists that he had a homosexual relationship with former Vice President Rufus King, with whom Buchanan lived with for more than a decade. To honor Buchanan in gold, the Mint reissued the Liberty Head design along with an image of Buchanan as a young bookkeeper at his family’s general store.

2010-W Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
5,162	7,110

 

Mary Todd Lincoln was known for her lavish spending and melancholic disposition. She was a controversial figure whose time in the White House is forever linked to the trauma of the Civil War and her husband’s assassination. Her erratic behavior and mounting debt made her a target for the press, overshadowing her genuine support for the Union cause.

2010-W Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
3,695	6,861

2011

By 2011, there were rumblings in the Treasury Department about ending all circulating dollar coin programs. Featured presidents include Andrew Johnson (17th), Ulysses S. Grant (18th), Rutherford B. Hayes (19th), and James A. Garfield (20th).

Eliza Johnson was mostly confined to the family quarters due to poor health. Her daughter, Martha Johnson Patterson, gracefully stepped in to serve as the chief White House hostess. Despite her seclusion, she encouraged her husband to improve the public perception of the White House and oversee its extensive redecoration.

2011-W Eliza Johnson First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,905	3,887

 

Julia Grant was a confident and joyful hostess who loved Washington society and took pleasure in the extensive international and national travels during her husband’s presidency. Unapologetic about her political views, she was one of the first First Ladies to write her memoirs, which were published posthumously.

2011-W Julia Grant First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,892	3,943

 

Lucy Hayes was the first First Lady with a college degree. She was known for her advocacy of temperance and was widely popular with the American public. Her support for educational opportunities for all citizens and her role as a symbol of the “new woman” earned her the nickname “Lemonade Lucy” for banning alcohol at the White House.

2011-W Lucy Hayes First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,196	3,868

Lucretia Garfield was a woman of keen intellect. She actively researched and restored White House history and architecture, but her time was tragically cut short by her husband’s assassination. She showed great dignity and strength while nursing her husband after he was shot, winning public admiration.

2011-W Lucretia Garfield First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,168	3,653

2012

On December 13, 2011, the Obama Administration stopped all circulating dollar coin production. Starting with the 2012 Chester Arthur coin, the Presidential Dollar would be for collectors only from now on – and mintages show it.

The Mint would adjust its pricing and product options accordingly. The price of 25-coin rolls was reduced by $7 to $32.95 and premiums were lowered for 100-, 250-, and 500-coin bags, which replaced the Mint’s prior Direct Ship program. This was also the year the annual four-coin set of Presidential Dollars was first issued.

Featured presidents include Chester Arthur (21st), Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th), and Benjamin Harrison (23rd).

Alice Paul, a leading strategist in the women’s suffrage movement, was chosen for a First Spouse Gold Coin as a special exception to the program’s usual rule. President Chester Arthur was a widower whose wife, Ellen, died before he took office (1881–1885). While the coins for most other unmarried or widowed presidents depict “Liberty,” the law specified that the coin corresponding to the Arthur administration should bear the name and likeness of Alice Paul. Paul was a leading strategist in the suffrage movement, whose efforts were instrumental in gaining women the right to vote with the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Paul was born during President Chester Arthur’s term (on January 11, 1885).

2012-W Alice Paul First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,798	3,505

 

Frances Cleveland became an instant national celebrity and was the first presidential bride to have her wedding ceremony in the White House. Her youth and beauty made her an immediate fashion icon whose image was heavily commercialized, much to her displeasure.

2012-W Frances Cleveland First Term First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,454	3,158

 

Caroline Harrison was a respected activist. She was a leading force behind the architectural restoration of the White House and helped found the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was the first First Lady to use electricity in the White House and started the tradition of having a decorated Christmas tree.

2012-W Caroline Harrison First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,436	3,046

 

Frances Cleveland became the first First Lady to give birth while residing at the White House. Their daughter Esther was born in the White House on September 9, 1893. She attempted to shield her growing family by occasionally ordering the closure of the White House grounds while the family was in residence.

2012-W Frances Cleveland Second Term First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,425	3,104

 

2013

Featured presidents include William McKinley (25th), Theodore Roosevelt (26th), William Howard Taft (27th), and Woodrow Wilson (28th).

Ida McKinley: Suffering from epilepsy, she often received guests while seated, relying heavily on her devoted husband’s constant, solicitous attention and support. The President often broke protocol to be by her side during social events, making their famous devotion a public spectacle.

2013-W Ida McKinley First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,008	2,724

 

Edith Roosevelt brought organization and formality back to the White House social life, actively influencing its renovation, design, and restoration. Known for her private nature and sharp political mind, she served as her husband’s trusted advisor behind the scenes.

2013-W Edith Roosevelt First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,027	2,840

 

Helen Taft was an ambitious and influential partner. She was the first to ride with her husband in the inaugural parade and famously spearheaded the planting of the Japanese cherry trees. Mrs. Taft was an active political force who advised her husband on everything from appointments to speeches, openly seeking a more powerful role.

2013-W Helen Taft First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,993	2,598

 

Following her husband’s paralyzing stroke, Edith Wilson controversially became an unprecedented presidential confidante, quietly managing his office and controlling information flow. She was later accused by critics of secretly running the executive branch, earning the moniker “the first woman president.”

2013-W Edith Wilson First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,974	2,464

 

2014

Featured presidents include Warren G. Harding (29th), Calvin Coolidge (30th), Herbert Hoover (31st), and Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd).

A modern, politically astute partner, Florence Harding openly championed causes like women’s suffrage and provided essential, direct advice to her husband. Nicknamed “Duchess,” she oversaw the White House social schedule and became the first First Lady to fly in an airplane.

2014-W Florence Harding First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,949	2,372

 

A vivacious and fashionable First Lady, Grace Coolidge brought a renewed sense of glamour to the White House and used her visibility to advocate for the deaf. Her warm, outgoing personality made her incredibly popular with the public, contrasting with her notoriously quiet husband.

2014-W Grace Coolidge First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,944	2,315

 

This highly educated traveler, linguist, and former president of the Girl Scouts, Lou Hoover was known for her quiet modernization of the White House and extensive social research. She was the first First Lady to host a radio broadcast, using the new medium to speak directly to the American public.

2014-W Lou Hoover First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,936	2,392

 

Eleanor Roosevelt fundamentally redefined the role, becoming a highly visible and active political figure who championed civil rights and social causes. Traveling extensively and holding her own press conferences, she used her unparalleled influence to advocate for the disadvantaged and become an activist First Lady.

2014-W Eleanor Roosevelt First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,886	2,377

 

 

2015

Featured presidents include Harry S. Truman (33rd), Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th), John F. Kennedy (35th), and Lyndon B. Johnson (36th). All 2015 Coin & Chronicles Sets included Reverse Proofs struck in Philadelphia.

Featured Mint Products

• The 2015 Presidential $1 Proof Set went on sale March 10
• The annual 2015 U.S. Mint Proof Set was available on March 24
• The 2015 Uncirculated Set was released on July 21
• The 2015 Presidential $1 Four-Coin Set went on sale October 22

Preferring a private life, Bess Truman capably managed the White House with a straightforward demeanor and carefully fulfilled her official duties without seeking the spotlight. She was a key political advisor to her husband, who respected her blunt honesty and political judgment.

2015-W Bess Truman First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,946	2,747

 

Known for her distinctive “Mamie Pink” style and welcoming personality, Mamie Eisenhower brought a popular, domestic warmth and thriftiness to the White House. She was a calming and traditional presence who oversaw a period of peace and prosperity.

2015-W Mamie Eisenhower First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,102	2,704

 

She transformed the White House into a museum of American history and art, using her style and grace to captivate the public and the world. Her televised tour of the restored White House was a smash hit, her public mourning gripped the nation, and she remains an international icon of sophistication.

2015-W Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
6,771	11,222

 

Lady Bird Johnson successfully championed the Highway Beautification Act as an environmental advocate, bringing her warmth and efficiency to the White House staff. Her lifelong commitment to conservation and making the nation’s capital more beautiful defined her influential public role.

2015-W Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,927	2,653

 

2016

Since Public Law 109-145 ended the Presidential $1 Coin Program when all eligible honorees had been featured, 2016 was the last contiguous year of the series. Only three presidents were commemorated this year: Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Ronald Reagan. The designs were announced on December 7, 2015.

Featured Mint Products

• The 2016 U.S. Mint Presidential Proof Set went on sale February 16.
• The 2016 Presidential $1 Uncirculated Set went on sale March 29.
• The annual 2016 U.S. Mint Proof Set was released on April 1.
• The 2016 United States Mint Silver Proof Set was issued April 18.
• The annual 2016 Mint Uncirculated Coin Set was available a month later on May 18.
• A special 2016 Presidential Dollar Three-Coin Set went on sale August 9.
• Sales for the Reagan Coin and Chronicles Set, which included a Reverse Proof dollar struck at San Francisco, opened on October 11.
• The 2016 U.S. Mint Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set became available on December 14.

Believing her mission was to represent “the silent majority,” Pat Nixon dedicated herself to the cause of volunteerism and extensive goodwill international travel. She was known for her graciousness and poise during highly public events, despite the stress of the Watergate scandal.

2016-W Patricia Nixon First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,839	2,645

 

Betty Ford earned national respect for her candid public discussion of her breast cancer and addiction, making her a groundbreaking advocate for mental health and substance abuse awareness. Her honesty made her one of the most visible and influential advocates of her time.

2016-W Betty Ford First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,824	2,471

 

Nancy Reagan launched the famous “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign and brought a renewed sense of Hollywood elegance to the First Lady’s platform. She was also a fiercely loyal and protective private advisor to her husband, particularly regarding his image and schedule.

2016-W Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
2,009	3,548

 

2020

President George Herbert Walker Bush died on November 30, 2018 – two years after the end of the program as authorized by Public Law 109-145. The 2020 George H.W. Bush Presidential Dollar and 2020 Barbara Bush First Spouse coin and medal were authorized by Public Law 116–112 (PDF link) on January 27, 2020.

The 2020 George H.W. Bush Coin & Chronicles Set included a Reverse Proof from San Francisco.

A beloved figure known for her straightforwardness and signature white hair, Barbara Bush made childhood literacy her enduring and primary cause. She used her position to establish the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and was known for her sense of humor and warmth.

2020-W Barbara Bush First Spouse $10 Gold Coin
Uncirculated	Proof
1,932	2,896

 

Coin Specifications

First Spouse Gold Bullion Coins
Years of Issue:	2007-16, 2020
Mintage (Business Strikes):	High: 19,823 (2007-W Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty); Low: 1,824 (2016-W Betty Ford)
Mintage (Proofs):	High: 19,815 (2007-W Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty); Low: 2,315 (2014-W Grace Coolidge)
Alloy:	.9999 gold, .0001 copper
Weight:	15.55 g
Diameter:	26.50 mm
Edge:	Reeded

 

* * *

The post First Spouse Gold Bullion Coins, 2007-2016, 2020 | CoinWeek appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.