First Spouse Gold Coin Series
The First Spouse Gold Coin Series was launched in 2007 to accompany the new series of circulating dollar coins honoring the Presidents. Each year four or five coins will be released to honor each First Lady of the United States.
Authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, each First Spouse Gold Coin is struck in 24 karat and contains one-half ounce of gold. The coins carry a legal tender face value of $10. The obverse of each coin features a portrait of the First Spouse and the reverse carries a scene emblematic of the spouse's life or contributions.
A subset of coins is created by Presidents who served without a spouse. In these situations, the obverse features an image of Liberty taken from a circulating coin of the President's era. The reverse features a scene from the President's life. There will be only four coins which carry the Liberty designs.
After early excitement about the new series led to a series of rapid sell outs, for a variety of reasons collector interest waned. This had the fortuitous consequence of creating numerous issues with enticingly low mintages. In many cases, coins which were unpopular when issued have gone on to become desirable low mintage rarities.
First Spouse Gold Coins will be released until at least 2016. The authorizing legislation provides that a coin will be issued for the spouse of any President honored in the Presidential Dollar series.
The releases for 2012 included coins honoring Alice Paul Suffragist, two coins for Frances Cleveland, and Caroline Harrison. The line up for 2013 will include coins featuring Ida McKinely, Edith Roosevelt, Helen Taft, Ellen Wilson, and Edith Wilson. There are five coins since President Woodrow Wilson had both a first and second wife while in office.
This site will provide you with information and resources for the entire First Spouse Gold Coin Program. You can keep track of the upcoming release schedule, research coin specifications, find coin mintages, images, or browse a selection of coins for sale.