WASHINGTON — The United States Mint began accepting orders for Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin at noon Eastern Time on November 25, 2008. The 24–karat gold collectible coin is available in a proof version priced at $549.95 and an uncirculated version priced at $524.95.
Martin Van Buren was the third President to serve without a spouse. For Presidents who served without a spouse, the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 calls for a gold coin to be issued bearing an obverse design emblematic of Liberty as represented on a United States coin issued during the President’s period of service and a reverse image emblematic of themes of that President. Martin Van Buren’s wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren, had been deceased for almost two decades when he was elected our Nation’s eighth President.
The gold coin bears an obverse design that appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime between 1837 and 1891, originally executed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht. Inscriptions are IN GOD WE TRUST, 2008 and 1837–1841, the years Van Buren served as President. The reverse of Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin bears an image of a young Van Buren at the tavern operated by his family in the town of Kinderhook, New York. The image was created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Jim Licaretz. Inscriptions on the reverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.
To view or download an image of the Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin, go to: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=Photo#2008Spouse.
Mintage for Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin is set at 40,000 units across both product options. Customer demand will determine the ratio of proof to uncirculated coins produced. Orders will be limited to 10 per product option per household for the first week of sales. The United States Mint will reevaluate this limit following the initial sales period and either extend, adjust or eliminate it.
Bronze medals bearing the likeness of the coin also will be available for $3.50. There is no mintage or order limit for this option.
To order the Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin, visit the United States Mint’s secure Web site at www.usmint.gov. Orders also may be placed at the toll–free number, 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Please add $4.95 shipping and handling to all domestic orders.
Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on–sale date and time of noon Eastern Time on November 24, 2008, shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.