WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will begin sales of the First Spouse Gold Coin honoring Anna Harrison–wife of the Nation’s ninth President, William Henry Harrison–at noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 5, 2009. Struck at the United States Mint at West Point, the one–half ounce 24–karat gold coin will be available in proof and uncirculated conditions.
The obverse (heads side) of the Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin features her portrait, designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Associate Designer Donna Weaver and executed by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Joseph Menna. Inscriptions on the obverse include IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and 1841, the year during which she served as First Spouse. The coin’s reverse (tails) depicts Harrison sharing in her passion for teaching with her students. The image was designed by United States Mint AIP Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and executed by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Charles L. Vickers. Inscriptions on the reverse are THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.
Mintage for the Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin is limited to 40,000 across both product options. The ratio of proof coins to uncirculated coins produced will be determined by customer demand within the total maximum issuance of 40,000. A limit of 10 coins per product option per household will be in effect during the first week of sales. At the end of the initial sales period, the United States Mint will reevaluate this limit and either extend, adjust or eliminate it.
The Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin will be priced according to the United States Mint’s pricing structure for platinum and gold numismatic products implemented January 12, 2009. Within this new pricing structure, product prices may change, based on a range of the average market price for gold and platinum. Current pricing for the Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin is available at http://catalog.usmint.gov/faqs-top-questions/payment-processing-charges-pricing.html.
Bronze medals bearing a likeness of the coin also will be available for $3.50. There is no mintage or order limit for the bronze medal.
Anna Tuhill Symmes Harrison was born in relative prosperity in New Jersey. She attended some of the best schools for girls in the northeast and is acknowledged as the first spouse of a president to be formally educated. She met William Henry Harrison, then a young soldier, while visiting her sister in Kentucky. Anna adapted to her life as a pioneer in the Ohio and Indiana frontier territories. She managed the couple’s business ventures and their 10 children in her husband’s frequent absences during his military and political career. William Henry Harrison was elected President in 1840 as the Whig Party candidate. Too sick to travel with her husband for his inauguration, Anna remained behind, with plans to join him later. But before she could make the journey to Washington, she learned of his sudden death. Although he had served only one month in office, Congress voted to give Anna a pension equal to his salary, setting a precedent for future first spouses.
Customers can order Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin products at the United States Mint’s secure Web site, www.usmint.gov, or by calling the toll–free order number, 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers may place their orders at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be applied to all domestic orders. A digital image of the Anna Harrison First Spouse Gold Coin is available at: /news/image-library/news-image-gallery.
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 ET on March 5, 2009, shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.