WASHINGTON — The United States Mint announced today that it will begin accepting orders for the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coin on December 3, 2009, at noon Eastern Time (ET). The one–half ounce 24–karat gold coin, struck at the United States Mint at West Point, will be available in proof and uncirculated versions.
The obverse (heads side), designed by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Phebe Hemphill and sculpted by Sculptor–Engraver Charles L. Vickers, features a portrait of Taylor, wife of former President Zachary Taylor. Inscriptions on the obverse are IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and 1849–1850, the period during which she served as first spouse. The coin’s reverse (tails side), designed by Artistic Infusion Program Associate Designer Mary Beth Zeitz and sculpted by Sculptor–Engraver Jim Licaretz, depicts Taylor helping an injured soldier during the Seminole War. A digital image of the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coin is available at http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=Photo#2009Spouse.
Maximum mintage for the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coin is set at 40,000 units across all product options. The ratio of proof coins to uncirculated coins 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 for the first week of sales. At the end of this period, the United States Mint will re–evaluate this limit and either extend, adjust or remove it.
Pricing for the First Spouse Gold Coins is based on the United States Mint’s pricing structure for numismatic products containing precious metals. For current pricing information, visit
http://catalog.usmint.gov/wcsstore/ConsumerDirect/images/catalog/en_US/GoldCoinGrid.pdf
In addition, on December 3, 1 5/16–inch bronze medals bearing the same likeness of Margaret Taylor featured on the gold coin will be available for $3.50 each. There is no mintage or order limit for the bronze medals. The Margaret Taylor Bronze Medal also is included in the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin and First Spouse Medal Set™ – Zachary Taylor. This set, available for purchase on December 17 at noon ET, includes an uncirculated Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 Coin. The coin and medal are encased in a durable plastic card enhanced with beautiful representations of the President and first spouse’s portraits, with issuance information on the back. The 2009 United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin and First Spouse Medal Set – Zachary Taylor is priced at $8.95.
Collectors may order any of these products at the secure Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/catalog, or by calling the toll–free number, 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be applied to all domestic orders.
Margaret “Peggy” Mackall Smith was born in Calvert County, Maryland. She met her future husband, Lieutenant Zachary Taylor, while visiting a sister in Kentucky. Taylor followed her husband during his long military career to remote hardship outposts that stretched from Louisiana to northern Wisconsin, creating homes for her family in tents, cabins and forts. Zachary Taylor emerged as a national hero after the Mexican–American War. When he became President, Margaret turned all official White House hostess duties over to their daughter, Betty Bliss, and enjoyed informal family gatherings and visits by her grandchildren.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.
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 December 3, 2009, noon ET (First Spouse Gold Coin, First Spouse Bronze Medal) or December 17, 2009, noon ET (Presidential $1 Coin and First Spouse Medal Set), 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.