US Mint Announces 2011 First Spouse Gold Coin Designs

The following is a release from the US Mint

The United States Mint today announced the eight new designs for the 2011 First Spouse Gold Coins. The First Spouse Gold Coins honor Eliza Johnson, Julia Grant, Lucy Hayes and Lucretia Garfield.

The obverses (heads sides) of the 24-karat First Spouse Gold Coins feature striking portraits of the first spouses. Inscriptions are the first spouse's name, the order and years of her time as first spouse, the year of minting or issuance and the standard inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY. The reverses (tails side) bear a unique design emblematic of that first spouse's life and work, with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 oz. and .9999 FINE GOLD.

The obverse design of the Eliza Johnson First Spouse Gold Coin is by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz. Additional inscriptions are ELIZA JOHNSON, 17th, 1865-1869 and 2011. The reverse design, by AIP Associate Designer Gary Whitley, captures her love of children. It depicts three children dancing and a Marine Band fiddler playing at the children's ball that was held for President Johnson's 60th birthday.

The obverse design of the Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coin is by AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver. Additional inscriptions are JULIA GRANT, 18th, 1869-1877 and 2011.

The reverse design, by AIP Master Designer Richard Masters, depicts a young Julia Dent and Ulysses S. Grant, then a West Point cadet, horseback riding at her family's plantation, White Haven.

The obverse design of the Lucy Hayes First Spouse Gold Coin is by AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble. Additional inscriptions are LUCY HAYES, 19th, 1877-1881 and 2011. The reverse, designed by AIP Associate Designer Barbara Fox, depicts Lucy Hayes' participation in the first Easter Egg Roll held at the White House.

The obverse design of the Lucretia Garfield First Spouse Gold Coin is also by Fox. Inscriptions are LUCRETIA GARFIELD, 20th, 1881 and 2011. The reverse design, by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso, represents Lucretia Garfield's interest in art and features her painting on a canvas with brush and palette in hand.

The new designs will also be featured on 1-5/16" bronze medals, priced at $7.95 each. Please visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog for scheduled release dates. Pricing for the gold coins will be based on the United States Mint's pricing structure, also available at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.