United States Mint Unveils 2010 First Spouse Gold Coin Designs

By US Mint on Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Filed Under: Mint News, Modern US Coins, Press Releases, US Coins, US Mint

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.

2010_first_spouse_line 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.

The obverse of the Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin also was designed by Hemphill. The reverse, by AIP Master Designer Joel Iskowitz, depicts Lincoln giving flowers and books to wounded Union soldiers.

Because President James Buchanan did not have a spouse, the obverse of his corresponding First Spouse Gold Coin features a design emblematic of Liberty as it appeared on a U.S. coin issued during his time in office. The obverse of James Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin is a reproduction of the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle design by Christian Gobrecht produced from 1840 through 1907. The reverse design, by AIP Associate Designer David Westwood, depicts President Buchanan as a young man working as a book-keeper in his family’s small country store in Pennsylvania.

The new designs also will be featured on 1-5/16″ bronze medals to be issued in 2010 for $3.50 each.

Customers may visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) to learn when the 2010 First Spouse Gold Coins and Medals will be available for purchase. Pricing will be based on the United States Mint pricing structure, available at the top of the First Spouse Gold Coin home page at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.

Tags: Abigail Fillmore, First Spouse, gold coins, Jane Pierce, Mary Todd Lincoln, US Coins, US Mint

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Since Congress created the United States Mint on April 2, 1792 the primary mission of the United States Mint is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the nation. As a self-funded agency, the United States Mint turns revenues beyond its operating expenses over to the General Fund of the Treasury.Other responsibilities, include: Maintaining physical custody and protection of the Nation's $100 billion of U.S. gold and silver assets, Manufacturing and selling platinum, gold, and silver bullion coins,Overseeing of production facilities in Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point, as well as the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky.