WASHINGTON – The United States Mint today announced the opening of sales for the Eliza Johnson First Spouse Gold Coin and Bronze Medal on May 5, 2011, at noon Eastern Time (ET). The coin is produced in .9999 fine (24–karat) gold.
The coin’s obverse (heads side) design, by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz, bears the likeness of Johnson with the inscriptions ELIZA JOHNSON, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 2011, 17th and 1865–1869. The coin’s reverse (tails side) design, by AIP Associate Designer Gary Whitley, depicts three children dancing and a Marine Band fiddler playing at the children’s ball that was held for President Johnson’s 60th birthday. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, ½ OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.
Pricing for the gold coins will be based on the United States Mint’s pricing structure for precious metals products, available at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog. No more than 15,000 Eliza Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins across both proof and uncirculated options will be produced. Bronze medals that bear a likeness of the gold coin will be available for $7.95 each.
Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may place their orders by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing 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 May 5, 2011, 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.