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Presidential Dollar Homepage
Why a Presidential Dollar Coin?
Basic Facts About the Program Release Schedule
Unique Edge Design
Hail to the Chiefs
Buy First Spouse Gold |
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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.
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Martha Washington |
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Years Served: 1789-1797 |
Release Date: 06-19-07 |
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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. |
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Abigail Adams |
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Years Served: 1797-1801 |
Release Date: 06-19-07 |
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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. |
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Thomas Jefferson Presidency |
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Years Served: 1801-1809 |
Release Date: 08-30-07 |
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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. |
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Dolley Madison |
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Years Served: 1809-1817 |
Release Date: 11-19-07 |
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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. |
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Elizabeth Monroe |
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Years Served: 1817-1825 |
Release Date: 04-15-08 |
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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. |
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Louisa Adams |
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Years Served: 1825-1829 |
Release Date: 2008 |
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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. |
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Andrew Jackson Presidency |
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Years Served: 1829-1837 |
Release Date: 2008 |
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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. |
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Martin Van Buren Presidency |
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Years Served: 1837-1841 |
Release Date: 2008 |
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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. |
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Anna Harrison |
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Year Served: 1841 |
Release Date: 2009 |
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Letitia Tyler |
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Years Served: 1841-1842 |
Release Date: 2009 |
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Julia Tyler |
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Years Served: 1844-1845 |
Release Date: 2009 |
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Sarah Polk |
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Years Served: 1845-1899 |
Release Date: 2009 |
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Margaret Taylor |
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Years Served: 1849-1850 |
Release Date: 2009 |
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Abigail Fillmore |
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Years Served: 1850-1853 |
Release Date: 2010 |
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Jane Pierce |
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Years Served: 1853-1857 |
Release Date: 2010 |
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James Buchanan Presidency |
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Years Served: 1857-1861 |
Release Date: 2010 |
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Mary Lincoln |
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Years Served: 1861-1865 |
Release Date: 2010 |
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Eliza Johnson |
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Years Served: 1865-1869 |
Release Date: 2011 |
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Julia S. Grant |
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Years Served: 1869-1877 |
Release Date: 2011 |
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Lucy Hayes |
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Years Served: 1877-1881 |
Release Date: 2011 |
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Lucretia Garfield |
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Year Served: 1881 |
Release Date: 2011 |
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Alice Paul |
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Years Served: 1881-1885 |
Release Date: 2012 |
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Frances Cleveland |
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Years Served: 1885-1889 |
Release Date: 2012 |
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Caroline Harrison |
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Years Served: 1889-1893 |
Release Date: 2012 |
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Frances Cleveland |
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Years Served: 1893-1897 |
Release Date: 2012 |
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Ida McKinley |
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Years Served: 1897-1901 |
Release Date: 2013 |
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Edith Roosevelt |
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Years Served: 1901-1909 |
Release Date: 2013 |
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Helen Taft |
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Years Served: 1909-1913 |
Release Date: 2013 |
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Ellen Wilson |
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Years Served: 1913-1914 |
Release Date: 2013 |
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Edith Wilson |
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Years Served: 1915-1921 |
Release Date: 2014 |
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Florence Harding |
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Years Served: 1921-1923 |
Release Date: 2014 |
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Grace Coolidge |
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Years Served: 1923-1929 |
Release Date: 2014 |
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Lou Hoover |
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Years Served: 1929-1933 |
Release Date: 2014 |
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Anna Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Years Served: 1933-1945 |
Release Date: 2014 |
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Elizabeth Truman |
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Years Served: 1945-1953 |
Release Date: 2015 |
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Mamie Eisenhower |
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Years Served: 1953-1961 |
Release Date: 2015 |
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Jacqueline Kennedy |
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Years Served: 1961-1963 |
Release Date: 2015 |
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