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4. First Spouse Gold Coins

First Spouse Gold Coins

When the Presidential Dollar Coin Program was initiated, a supplemental program was also enacted at the same time, called the First Spouse Program of commemorative bullion coins. On December 22, 2005, US President George W. Bush signed into law the Presidential $1 Coin Act and the Presidential dollars began to be produced in January of 2007. Since then, 4 US Presidents were honored each year with 4 different designs on the golden dollar coins. During the same time schedule, each spouse of each President, would also be honored on a $10 half ounce gold coin. The first spouse coins were released on June 19, 2007, both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams coins were released at the same time. Unlike the Presidential Dollars, the First Spouse coins are made of real gold, solid and pure.

The $10 First Spouse gold coins would feature each President's spouse on the obverse (front side or heads side) of the coin in the form of a relief portrait. Their names would appear above the portrait along the upper rim. The words "IN GOD WE TRUST" would appear to the left side and "LIBERTY" would appear on the right side. The year that the coin was minted and the West Point Mint "W" mintmark would appear below the word "LIBERTY". Along the bottom rim, appears which number spouse they were in order of the when each US President took office, along with the term that each spouse served with the President.

the reverse (back side or tails side) of these coins depicts a portrait scene that symbolizes the work and life of each spouse. Also depicted on the reverse are the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the upper rim. Along the lower rim is the US motto: "E PLURIBUS UNUM" along with "$10" and "1/2 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD". These gold coins were produced as both collectible proof coinage and uncirculated coins. These gold coins are sometimes known as the first spouse gold eagles because an "eagle" coin has historically been a half ounce $10 denomination gold coin. In addition, bronze medals were also produced depicting the same design, but are not actually legal tender. The value and prices of the first spouse gold coins are extremely volatile because of the rapidly changing prices of gold. Like all gold, silver and bullion coins, the value of gold coins are pegged to the precious metal gold prices in the market at any given time.

Not all US Presidents were married while in office and did not have a spouse that served with them. In this case, an image that symbolized Liberty was featured on the obverse of the coin. This "Liberty" design was similar to a coin that was produced and circulated during their era. For instance, US President Thomas Jefferson didn't have a spouse and so the Thomas Jefferson's Liberty coin was produced featuring an early American liberty design used on coinage during that day. The reverse of these coins depicts images emblematic themes of the President himself. There were a number of presidents who had their own Liberty coin because they did not have a spouse. An exception to the Liberty design was the Alice Paul first spouse coin, minted in honor of Chester A. Arthur. Alice Paul was not a first spouse, nor was she related to President Arthur. Since Arthur was a widower, Alice Paul (American suffragist and women's rights activist) was depicted as someone who represented the era of the time period when the women's suffrage movement was most prominent.

In most cases, only 4 different coin designs are released each year in order to correspond to the US Presidential dollar coins that were being minted at the same time. Although in some cases, 5 coins were released each year. Some first spouses passed away while a President was in office, and then that President re-married while still in office. In this case, two different spouse coins for each spouse would be released. An example of this is are the Letitia Tyler and Julia Tyler first spouse coins. During the term of US President John Tyler, Letitia passed away and John married Julia. Another example of this are the Ellen Wilson and Edith Wilson first spouse coins. Ellen served as first lady to US President Woodrow Wilson before she passed away. While Woodrow Wilson was still President, he re-married Edith and so both women are honored during the same year.

In order for a spouse to be eligible, the US President that they served with must also be eligible to be honored in the Presidential dollar coins. As long as a US President has been deceased for at least 2 years, they will be eligible to be depicted on the dollar coin. If a President is eligible, then the first spouse is automatically eligible to be depicted on a first spouse coin, even if they are still currently alive. At the moment, Ronald Reagan is the last eligible President to be depicted on the dollar coins scheduled to be released in 2016. This means Nancy Reagan will be the last first spouse to be scheduled to also be honored in 2016. If Jimmy Carter passes away by 2014, his coin would be produced before Ronald Reagan and Rosalynn Carter would then be depicted before Nancy Reagan.

All first spouses so far in history are currently women who have served as first ladies. Hillary Clinton would qualify to be depicted on the first spouse coin sometime in the future as first lady to US President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton is also the most likely women who could potentially become US President someday. This would mean Hillary Clinton could be depicted on the Presidential dollar coins as well, and Bill Clinton would become the first man depicted on the first spouse coins!

Below is a table chart depicted the entire First Spouse coin series. This includes enlargeable, high quality large images, pictures and photos for each coin design. Also included is the name of the first spouse, year that the coin was release, the release date, mintage figures (referencing to the prices, values and specs of the coins), US President who each spouse served with, dates that they served, and the designers and engravers for the obverse and reverse of each coin. Some of the data and designs are still yet to be determined, but we will update this table as new details emerge in the future:

	Design Image	Name / Year	Release Date	Mintage	President / Served	Obverse Designer / Engraver	Reverse Designer / Engraver
2007 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Martha Washington 2007	June 19, 2007	W: 36,830	George Washington 1789-1797	Joseph Menna	Susan Gamble Don Everhart
		Abigail Adams 2007	June 19, 2007	W: 34,291	John Adams 1797-1801	Joseph Menna	Thomas Cleveland Phebe Hemphill
		Thomas Jefferson's Liberty 2007	August 30, 2007	W: 39,638	Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809	Robert Scot Phebe Hemphill	Charles Vickers
		Dolley Madison 2007	November 19, 2007	W: 19,474	James Madison 1809-1817	Don Everhart	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart
2008 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Elizabeth Monroe 2008	February 28, 2008	W: 12,452	James Monroe 1817-1825	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart	Donna Weaver Charles Vickers
		Louisa Adams 2008	May 29, 2008	W: 11,677	John Quincy Adams 1825-1829	Susan Gamble Phebe Hemphill	Joseph Menna
		Andrew Jackson's Liberty 2008	August 28, 2008	W: 11,735	Andrew Jackson 1829-1837	John Reich	Justin Kunz Don Everhart
		Martin Van Buren's Liberty 2008	November 25, 2008	W: 9,630	Martin Van Buren 1837-1841	Christian Gobrecht	Thomas Cleveland Jim Licaretz
2009 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Anna Harrison 2009	March 5, 2009	W: 8,794	William Henry Harrison 1841	Donna Weaver Joseph Menna	Thomas Cleveland Charles Vickers
		Letitia Tyler 2009	July 2, 2009	W: 6,722	John Tyler 1841-1842	Phebe Hemphill	Susan Gamble Norm Nemeth
		Julia Tyler 2009	August 6, 2009	W: 6,066	John Tyler 1844-1845	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart
		Sarah Polk 2009	September 3, 2009	W: 5,405	James K. Polk 1845-1849	Phebe Hemphill	Phebe Hemphill
		Margaret Taylor 2009	December 3, 2009	W: 8,272	Zachary Taylor 1849-1850	Phebe Hemphill Charles Vickers	Mary Beth Zeitz Jim Licaretz
2010 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Abigail Fillmore 2010	March 18, 2010	W: 9,612	Millard Fillmore 1850-1853	Phebe Hemphill	Susan Gamble Joseph Menna
		Jane Pierce 2010	June 3, 2010	W: 8,113	Franklin Pierce 1853-1857	Donna Weaver Don Everhart	Donna Weaver Charles Vickers
		James Buchanan's Liberty 2010	September 2, 2010	W: 12,272	James Buchanan 1857-1861	Christian Gobrecht	David Westwood Joseph Menna
		Mary Todd Lincoln 2010	December 2, 2010	W: 10,556	Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865	Phebe Hemphill	Joel Iskowitz Phebe Hemphill
2011 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Eliza Johnson 2011	May 5, 2011	W: 6,822	Andrew Johnson 1865-1869	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart	Gary Whitley Phebe Hemphill
		Julia Grant 2011	June 23, 2011	W: 6,921	Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877	Donna Weaver Michael Gaudioso	Richard Masters Charles L. Vickers
		Lucy Hayes 2011	September 1, 2011	W: 6,148	Rutherford B. Hayes 1877-1881	Susan Gamble Don Everhart	Barbara Fox Joseph Menna
		Lucretia Garfield 2011	December 1, 2011	W: 6,150	James A. Garfield 1881	Barbara Fox Phebe Hemphill	Michael Gaudioso
2012 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Alice Paul 2012	October 12, 2012	W: 6,304	Chester A. Arthur * (Suffrage Movement)	Susan Gamble Phebe Hemphill	Phebe Hemphill
		Frances Cleveland 2012	November 15, 2012	W: 5,612	Grover Cleveland 1st Term 1886-1889	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart	Barbara Fox Michael Gaudioso
		Caroline Harrison 2012	December 6, 2012	W: 5,482	Benjamin Harrison 1889-1892	Frank Morris Michael Gaudioso	Donna Weaver Charles Vickers
		Frances Cleveland 2012	December 20, 2012	W: 5,529	Grover Cleveland 2nd Term 1893-1897	Barbara Fox Phebe Hemphill	Joseph Menna
2013 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Ida McKinley 2013	November 14, 2013	W: 4,732	William McKinley 1897-1901	Susan Gamble Phebe Hemphill	Donna Weaver Renata Gordon
		Edith Roosevelt 2013	November 21, 2013	W: 4,867	Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909	Joel Iskowitz Joseph Menna	Chris Costello Don Everhart
		Helen Taft 2013	December 2, 2013	W: 4,591	William Howard Taft 1909-1913	William C. Burgard Phebe Hemphill	Richard Masters Charles Vickers
		Ellen Wilson 2013	December 9, 2013	W: 4,491	Woodrow Wilson 1913-1914	Frank Morris Charles Vickers	Don Everhart
		Edith Wilson 2013	December 16, 2013	W: 4,438	Woodrow Wilson 1915-1921	David Westwood Michael Gaudioso	Joseph Menna
2014 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Florence Harding 2014	July 10, 2014	W: 4,316	Warren G. Harding 1921-1923	Thomas Cleveland Joseph Menna	Thomas Cleveland Don Everhart
		Grace Coolidge 2014	July 17, 2014	W: 4,264	Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929	Joel Iskowitz Phebe Hemphill	Frank Morris Jim Licaretz
		Lou Hoover 2014	August 14, 2014	W: 4,328	Herbert Hoover 1929-1933	Susan Gamble Michael Gaudioso	Richard Masters Jim Licaretz
		Eleanor Roosevelt 2014	September 4, 2014	W: 4,236	Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1945	Chris Costello Phebe Hemphill	Chris Costello Renata Gordon
2015 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Bess Truman 2015	April 16, 2015	W: 4,694	Harry S. Truman 1945-1953	Joel Iskowitz Phebe Hemphill	Joel Iskowitz Charles Vickers
		Mamie Eisenhower 2015	May 7, 2015	W: 4,806	Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961	Richard Masters Joseph Menna	Barbara Fox Renata Gordon
		Jacqueline Kennedy 2015	June 25, 2015	W: 17,993	John F. Kennedy 1961-1963	Susan Gamble Phebe Hemphill	Benjamin Sowards Jim Licaretz
		Lady Bird Johnson 2015	August 27, 2015	W: 4,583	Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969	Linda Fox Michael Gaudioso	Chris Costello Renata Gordon
2016 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Pat Nixon 2016	February 18, 2016	W: 4,660	Richard Nixon 1969-1974	Richard Masters Don Everhart	Richard Masters Jim Licaretz
		Elizabeth Ford 2016	March 25, 2016	W: 4,491	Gerald Ford 1974-1977	Barbara Fox Michael Gaudioso	Chris Costello Renata Gordon
		Nancy Reagan 2016	July 1, 2016	W: 5,559	Ronald Reagan 1981-1989	Benjamin Sowards Joseph Menna	Joel Iskowitz Don Everhart
2020 First Spouse Gold Coins:
		Barbara Bush 2017	August 20, 2020	W: 3,987	George H. W. Bush 1989-1993	Benjamin Sowards Phebe Hemphill	Barbara Fox John P. McGraw
Possible Future First Spouse Gold Coins:
	To Be Determined	Rosalynn Carter	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	Jimmy Carter 1977-1981	To Be Determined	To Be Determined
	To Be Determined	Hillary Clinton	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	Bill Clinton 1993-2001	To Be Determined	To Be Determined
	To Be Determined	Laura Bush	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	George W. Bush 2001-2009	To Be Determined	To Be Determined
	To Be Determined	Michelle Obama	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	Barack Obama 2009-2016	To Be Determined	To Be Determined
	To Be Determined	Melania Trump	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	Donald Trump 2016-2020	To Be Determined	To Be Determined
	To Be Determined	Jill Biden	To Be Determined	To Be Determined	Joe Biden 2020-present	To Be Determined	To Be Determined

      - The gray area can sometimes be confusing. Not all of the first spouses will be honored during these years. In order for a spouse to qualify to be depicted on the gold coins, the US President must first qualify to be depicted on the Presidential Dollar Coins. In order for a President to qualify, they must be deceased for at least 2 years. At the moment, President George H.W. Bush currently qualifies as the last President in the dollar series. Because of this, Nancy Reagan is the last spouse to be eligible to be depicted in the First Spouse coin series. In addition, if any other President passes away within 2 years, they would be next to be depicted on the dollar coins and their first spouse would also then be depicted on the gold coins.