WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for the Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Coin on June 3, 2010, 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 conditions. Pricing for the coins will be based on the United States Mint’s pricing structure for precious metals products. For current pricing information, visit http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=goldplat.
The maximum mintage for the Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Coin is set at 15,000 units across both product options. Customer demand will determine the ratio of proof to uncirculated coins produced within the total maximum mintage. There is no household order limit for this product.
Bronze medals bearing a likeness of the gold coin also will be available for $5.50 each. There is no mintage or household order limit for the bronze medal, which is 1–5/16 inches in size.
Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be applied to all domestic orders.
The coin’s obverse (heads side) features a portrait of Jane Pierce designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Don Everhart. Inscriptions on the obverse include JANE PIERCE, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 2010, 14th and 1853–1857, the period during which she served in the White House. The coin’s reverse (tails side) was also designed by Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Charles L. Vickers. The design depicts Pierce sitting and listening to debates in the visitor’s gallery of the Old Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol Building. Inscriptions on the reverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.
A digital image of the Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Coin is available at: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=Photo#2010Spouse
Jane Means Appleton Pierce was born on March 12, 1806, in Hampton, New Hampshire. Her father later moved the family to Brunswick, Maine, when he became president of Bowdoin College, Jane’s future alma mater. Bowdoin College also was where she met her future husband, Franklin Pierce. They married in 1834, eight years after they met. In 1852, the Democratic Party made her husband its candidate for President.
While living in Washington, Pierce made regular visits to the Senate gallery in the U.S. Capitol Building to watch heated debates over slavery. After President Pierce left office, the couple sailed the Caribbean on board the U.S.S. Powhatan, a government ship loaned to them by his successor, President James Buchanan.
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 June 3, 2010, at noon ET 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.
The United States Mint – Connecting America through Coins