First Spouse Coinage

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The U.S. is minting a series of $10 coins, containing one-half ounce of gold, to honor the "First Spouses".  The coins will feature portraits of the President's spouse (as of now, all of them have been female), released in the order that they served the nation.  The First Spouse coinage runs concurrently with the Presidential Dollar Coin Program. Each coin will have a unique reverse design, emblematic of the First Lady's work and accomplishments during her husband's presidency. The First Spouse coins of 2008 were unveiled on Nov 19, 2007 at a White House ceremony.  Current First Lady Laura Bush participated in the event.  The 2008 First Spouse coins commemorate Elizabeth Monroe, Louisa Adams, the Andrew Jackson Presidency, and the Martin Van Buren Presidency.  Both Jackson and Van Buren were widowers when they took up residence in the White House. The release date for the 2008 Elizabeth Monroe First Spouse coin has been set for April 15.  Release dates for the remaining First Spouses of 2008 will be announced throughout the year. The First Spouse coins measure about 1.043 inches in diameter, and must be struck in both Proof and Uncirculated versions.  In addition, lower cost bronze medal duplicates measuring 1.3125 inches are being produced. When a President served without a First Spouse, such as Andrew Jackson, a substitute coin will be minted.  The obverse will bear an image of Liberty as seen on circulating coinage of that era, and the reverse will depict a theme reminiscent of that President. The first First Spouse coins, featuring Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, were released on June 19, 2007.  The other First Spouse coins of 2007 were the Thomas Jefferson Presidency and Dolley Madison. The Mint is limiting the maximum number of each of the first four designs to 40,000, for Proof and Uncirculated formats combined.  All coin images below are courtesy of the U.S. Mint. Martha Washington Years Served: 1789-1797 Release Date: 06-19-07 Martha Washington was the first First Lady of the United States.  The reverse design depicts her sewing a button onto her husband's uniform jacket.  Martha Washington's concern for the colonial soldiers earned lasting respect and admiration. Abigail Adams Years Served: 1797-1801 Release Date: 06-19-07 In one of her most important letters, Abigail Adams requested that her husband "remember the ladies" when creating the new country.  John Adams stated that Abigail was sharp politically and valued her counsel above any of his colleagues. Thomas Jefferson Presidency Years Served: 1801-1809 Release Date: 08-30-07 Thomas Jefferson's wife died in 1782, so there was no First Lady during his administration.  The obverse features Liberty as she appeared on the Half Cent coin of 1800-1808.  The reverse shows his burial place and epitaph. Dolley Madison Years Served: 1809-1817 Release Date: 11-19-07 We today can thank Dolley Madison for saving the inspiring Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington.  As British troops advanced toward the White House during the War of 1812, she got the portrait to safety before the building was torched. Elizabeth Monroe Years Served: 1817-1825 Release Date: 04-15-08 On Jan 1, 1818, Elizabeth and James Monroe held a reception to reopen the White House, rebuilt after its burning in 1814. Mrs. Monroe brought a sense of formality to the White House, donating her own furniture.  Nine pieces remain in the WH today. Louisa Adams Years Served: 1825-1829 Release Date: 2008 Louisa Adams was a talented musician, linguist, and author.  She wrote a play Suspicion, or Persecuted Innocence while she lived in the White House, in which she stressed the strengths of women. She was the first First Lady to write her memoirs. Andrew Jackson Presidency Years Served: 1829-1837 Release Date: 2008 Andrew Jackson's wife Rachel died after he won the Nov 1828 election, but before taking office. The obverse has Miss Liberty of the Capped Bust Half Dollar of 1807–1836. The reverse remembers Jackson as “Old Hickory,” a hero from the War of 1812. Martin Van Buren Presidency Years Served: 1837-1841 Release Date: 2008 Martin Van Buren was a widower for 18 years when he became president.  His wife Hannah died in 1819.  For the Van Buren presidency, the image selected to represent Miss Liberty is her appearance on the Seated Liberty Dime of 1837–1891. Anna Harrison Year Served: 1841 Release Date: 2009   Letitia Tyler Years Served: 1841-1842 Release Date: 2009   Julia Tyler Years Served: 1844-1845 Release Date: 2009   Sarah Polk Years Served: 1845-1899 Release Date: 2009   Margaret Taylor Years Served: 1849-1850 Release Date: 2009   Abigail Fillmore Years Served: 1850-1853 Release Date: 2010   Jane Pierce Years Served: 1853-1857 Release Date: 2010   James Buchanan Presidency Years Served: 1857-1861 Release Date: 2010   Mary Lincoln Years Served: 1861-1865 Release Date: 2010   Eliza Johnson Years Served: 1865-1869 Release Date: 2011   Julia S. Grant Years Served: 1869-1877 Release Date: 2011   Lucy Hayes Years Served: 1877-1881 Release Date: 2011   Lucretia Garfield Year Served: 1881 Release Date: 2011   Alice Paul Years Served: 1881-1885 Release Date: 2012   Frances Cleveland Years Served: 1885-1889 Release Date: 2012   Caroline Harrison Years Served: 1889-1893 Release Date: 2012   Frances Cleveland Years Served: 1893-1897 Release Date: 2012   Ida McKinley Years Served: 1897-1901 Release Date: 2013   Edith Roosevelt Years Served: 1901-1909 Release Date: 2013   Helen Taft Years Served: 1909-1913 Release Date: 2013   Ellen Wilson Years Served: 1913-1914 Release Date: 2013   Edith Wilson Years Served: 1915-1921 Release Date: 2014   Florence Harding Years Served: 1921-1923 Release Date: 2014   Grace Coolidge Years Served: 1923-1929 Release Date: 2014   Lou Hoover Years Served: 1929-1933 Release Date: 2014   Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Years Served: 1933-1945 Release Date: 2014   Elizabeth Truman Years Served: 1945-1953 Release Date: 2015   Mamie Eisenhower Years Served: 1953-1961 Release Date: 2015   Jacqueline Kennedy Years Served: 1961-1963 Release Date: 2015

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