From the category archives:

US Mint

Two new First Spouse Gold coins launched from the United States Mint. The Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Proof Coin and Uncirculated Coin released at noon Thursday, June 3rd.

These 24-karats one-half ounce gold coins are being added to coin collections around the world. The special gold series started in 2007 and honor the spouses of each U. S. President. According to the law that began the collector coins, at least four new First Spouse Gold Coins will be struck each year in the order first lady’s served through 2016. [click to continue…]

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2010 Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold CoinsThe United States Mint launched the Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coins today at noon Eastern Time.

The 1/2 ounce, 24-karat gold coins have a face value of $10 and come in proof and uncirculated versions. Each are struck at the United States Mint at West Point and bear the ‘W’ mint mark.

The coins are encapsulated for protection and ship in a presentation case with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the United States Mint Director. No household order limits are in place, but the maximum mintage is 15,000 across all product options as opposed to the 40,000 maximum of earlier coins in the series. [click to continue…]

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2009 Margaret Taylor  First Spouse Gold CoinsThe US Mint began taking orders today for the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins. Available in either proof or uncirculated condition, the coins are struck from 1/2 ounce of 24-karat gold to a face value of $10.

Both strikes come encapsulated for protection and ship in a presentation case. An order limit of 10 per household per product option has been implemented by the Mint with an initial release price of $754 for the proof and $741 for the uncirculated.

Gold itself has been hanging above $1,200 an ounce on the markets for the last few days making it a definite possibility that the Mint will raise the price of these precious metal coins next week according to their pricing matrix. If the average London Fix for gold stays above that $1,200 mark, the First Spouse coins will increase in price to $779 and $766 for the proof and uncirculated, respectively. (For more information, see First Spouse Price Grid.)

Margaret Taylor Information

Margaret Taylor was married to Zachary Taylor for almost 40 years before he was elected as President of the United States.

Before meeting her future husband, Margaret led a life of leisure provided by the wealth of her family. Despite knowing the hardships she may have to endure, she married a young Zachary Taylor who had chosen the Army as his career. [click to continue…]

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James K. Polk & Sarah Polk Presidential Dollar & First Spouse Medal SetThe US Mint released the latest Presidential Dollar and First Spouse Set featuring James K. Polk on a uncirculated $1 and Sarah Polk on a bronze medal.

The Mint issued the set on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, for $8.95. It includes the $1 and medal within a plastic card that bears the pairs portrait with information on the back.

The set is the fourth for 2009 and the twelfth in a very popular collector series that honors both former Presidents and First Ladies. [click to continue…]

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The First Spouse Gold Coin Price Guide has been updated to include the proof and uncirculated coins honoring First Lady Julia Tyler, which the United States Mint launched Thursday, August 6, 2009.

The price guide includes:

  • The latest US Mint sales figures for each First Spouse Coin
  • The latest US Mint prices for all First Spouse Coins
  • The intrinsic value of the gold within each coin
  • The difference between a Mint’s coin price and its intrinsic value (in $ and %)
  • Links to US Mint product pages for each coin
  • Link to the First Spouse Coin page offering information on the coin and a brief biography of the First Lady
  • For coins no longer offered by the US Mint, links to current eBay auctions

The guide also includes an adjustable gold spot price which drives the coin pricing grid. While a modern collectible gold coin’s intrinsic value should not be used to judge its numismatic worth, knowing the value of gold within a coin is nevertheless insightful.

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Sales of the $10 denominated Julia Tyler First Spouse Gold Coins began at noon Eastern Time on Thursday, August 6. As the eleventh coin in the First Lady series, they are actually the second pair of Tyler coins and follow the set honoring President Tyler’s first wife Letitia, who died during the former president’s second year in office.

Julia Tyler First Spouse Gold proof and uncirculated coins

Prices for the gold coins are based on the US Mint’s precious metals pricing structure and can change based on average gold prices. The initial price for the proof option is $629 while the uncirculated is set at $616.

The obverse, or "heads", side of the Julia Tyler Coin features a portrait of Julia designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. The inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and 1844-1845 (the years in which Julia served as First Lady) are present on the obverse as well. [click to continue…]

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John and Letitia Tyler Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal SetJohn and Letitia Tyler Presidential $1 Coin and First Spouse Medal Sets will launch Tuesday, July 14, the US Mint has announced.

The set is to be released at noon ET for the price of $8.95, and includes an uncirculated dollar featuring John Tyler and a bronze medal bearing a likeness to the Letitia Tyler First Spouse Gold Coin. The set is the second for 2009 and the tenth in a very popular collector series that honors both former Presidents and First Ladies.

The obverse or heads side of the $1 coin, designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, bears an image of John Tyler with the inscriptions "John Tyler", "In God We Trust", "10th President" and "1841-1845." [click to continue…]

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2009 Letitia Tyler First Spouse Gold Coins in proof and uncirculated condition were launched Thursday by the United States Mint for the price of $629 and $616, respectively.

Letitia Tyler First Spouse Gold proof and uncirculated coins

The $10 denominated, 24-karat gold coins are the tenth commemoratives released in a series to honor American First Ladies.

The obverse, or "heads," side of each coin features a portrait of Letitia Tyler designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The reverse, or "tails" side, was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Norm Nemeth. [click to continue…]

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Declining ChartWith the cost of gold on the slide recently, it is expected that the US Mint will be reducing its’ prices on the First Spouse Gold Coins. This is bad news for those investing in gold, but great news for coin collectors.

You may recall, the Mint has tied the pricing of the Spouse coins to the recent average of gold on the London Fix. The London Fix is a benchmark used by large institutions when trading the precious metal. [click to continue…]

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Declining ChartFirst Spouse Gold Coin prices will be raised Wednesday or Thursday by $25 each, based on higher gold prices and the Mint’s pricing grid.

The Mint uses a weekly average of London Fix prices (the previous Thursday a.m. Fix through to the Wednesday a.m. Fix), and that gold average it currently above $900 an ounce. With that, an upward price adjustment is in the works.

In recent times when an update was needed, the Mint changed prices around noon on Wednesday. However, it has also made the move Thursday morning. [click to continue…]

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