WASHINGTON — 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.
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.
Images of the 2010 First Spouse Gold Coin designs are available at /learn/coin-and-medal-programs/first-spouse-gold-coins.
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.
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.