First Spouse Gold Coins: Prices Higher, Sales Lower

The United States Mint raised their prices for the one-half ounce First Spouse Gold Coins yesterday in response to the higher recent market price of the precious metal. At $879 per proof and $866 for each uncirculated, the new prices are the highest they have ever been in the full span of the series.

The increase was necessary according to the US Mint’s pricing policy. When the average London Fix gold price moves beyond certain $50 price points as illustrated in the First Spouse Gold Coin pricing grid, and the Wednesday PM price that is used as a market trend indicator agrees with the direction the average has moved, then the Mint changes the gold coins’ prices by $25.

On March 2, the average landed in a new range between $1,400.00 and $1,449.99. Since the Wednesday PM price of $1,421.50 was also in the new range, the Mint’s prices followed suit. First Spouse Gold Coin prices will change again when London’s weekly average and the trend indicator moves out of that range.

As for sales between Monday, February 21, and Sunday, February 27, all were lower compared to the previous week’s surge. A total of 351 sold compared to 759.

The highest sellers were Jane Pierce’s uncirculated with 91 and Mary Lincoln’s proof at 88. In the prior report, their gains had been 152 and 96. James Buchanan’s Liberty uncirculated was third since it advanced by 68, which followed a prior jump of 161. His sold out proof version remained unchanged.

Abigail Fillmore’s options will likely be taken off the market when the US Mint launches the 2011 First Spouse Coins. Fillmore’s proof only rose by 16 compared to 130 previously, and her uncirculated added 30 compared to 38.

The following tables compare the prior to most recent U.S. Mint data:

The "as of date" for the latest Mint figures was Sunday, February 27, 2011.