WASHINGTON — The final 2010 coin in the First Spouse Coin Program, struck in honor of Mary Todd Lincoln, will be available at noon Eastern Time (ET) on December 2. The one–half ounce 24–karat gold coin is produced at the United States Mint at West Point in proof and uncirculated qualities. 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. Bronze medals that bear a likeness of the gold coin will be available for $5.50 each.
The coin’s obverse (heads side) features a portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Phebe Hemphill. Inscriptions on the obverse are MARY TODD LINCOLN, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 2010, 16th and 1861–1865, the years during which she was the spouse of the President. The coin’s reverse (tails side), designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Hemphill, portrays Mary Todd Lincoln bringing wounded Union soldiers flowers and books. 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 Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin is available at: http://www.usmint.gov/news.
The Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Bronze Medal is also included in the 2010 First Spouse Medal Series: Four Medal Set. This set, also available for purchase on December 2 at noon ET, includes bronze medals bearing the likenesses of the Mary Todd Lincoln, Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce and Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins. The sets are priced at $15.95 each.
The maximum mintage for the Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin is 20,000 across all product options. Customer demand will determine the ratio of proof coins to uncirculated coins produced within the total maximum mintage. There are no household order limits in effect for the gold coin, bronze medal or four–medal set.
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 at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be applied to all domestic orders.
Mary Todd Lincoln was born on December 13, 1818, in Lexington, Kentucky, where she cultivated her love for politics. Later, in Springfield, Illinois, she met Abraham Lincoln and they married in 1842. When Lincoln was first elected to Congress in 1847, Mary directed all her energy into helping advance his career and, ultimately, his bid for the presidency. After Lincoln became President in 1861, Mary served enthusiastically as his confidant and advisor. She visited wounded Union soldiers, bringing them food, books and flowers, and wrote letters to relatives on their behalf. After leaving the White House, Mary retired to Hyde Park, Illinois. She spent several summers abroad with her surviving children and died peacefully in 1882.
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 2, 2010, 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.