The United States Mint today released the four new designs that will appear on the 2010 First Spouse Gold Coins. The coins will feature Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce, James Buchanan’s “Liberty” and Mary Todd Lincoln.

The obverses (heads sides) of the Fillmore, Pierce and Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coins feature striking portraits of the first spouses. Inscriptions on the obverses of the three coins are the first spouse’s name, the date and order of her term as first spouse, the year of minting or issuance, and the inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY. Each coin’s reverse (tails side) bears a unique design featuring an image emblematic of that spouse’s life and work, with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 oz. and .9999 FINE GOLD.

The obverse design of the Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coin is by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. The coin’s reverse, by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Susan Gamble, depicts Fillmore shelving books in the library that she established at the White House.

The obverse of the Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Coin is by AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver. The reverse design, also by Weaver, depicts Pierce listening to debates while sitting in the visitor’s gallery of the Old Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol Building. (more…)