Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2008, KM# 430, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Elizabeth Monroe
  • 10 Dollars 2008, KM# 430, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Elizabeth Monroe
Description

The Nation’s First Ladies are being honored on a series of one-half ounce 24 karat gold coins. The coins are considered numismatic items and have a nominal face value of $10. Typically, four different designs are released per year featuring the spouses of the Presidents in the order served. The First Spouse Gold Coins represent the first time that the United States Mint has featured women on a consecutive series of coins.

The program was authorized under Public Law 109-145 The Presidential $1 Coin Act. In addition to authorizing the Presidential Dollars series, which features the former Presidents in the order served, the law also provided for the issuance of gold coins featuring the President’s spouses.

For Presidents who served in office with a first and second wife, two gold coins are issued for the Presidency. For Presidents who served in office without a spouse, a depiction of Liberty is presented on the obverse of the coin for four instances, with Suffragist Alice Paul depicted for the final instance.

The obverse of each First Spouse coin features a portrait of the spouse being honored. The reverse design of each coin contains images emblematic of the spouse being honored. Some of the reverse designs so far have included memorable scenes from the spouse’s life, or images representative of their major contributions, themes, or accomplishments.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of Elizabeth Monroe. The inscriptions include “Elizabeth Monroe”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “5th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1817-1825", and the date and mintmark "W".

Elizabeth Monroe (née Kortright; 1768–1830) was the first lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825, as the wife of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. Due to the fragile condition of Elizabeth's health, many of the duties of official White House hostess were assumed by her eldest daughter, Eliza Monroe Hay.

Design: Joel Iskowitz (JL)
Modelled: Don Everhart (DE)

ELIZABETH MONROE
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2008
JL DE W
5th 1817-1825

Reverse

Depicts Elizabeth Monroe at the reception for the reopening of the White House in 1818. The White House had been burned by British troops during the War of 1812, and the First Lady had been instrumental in the refurbishing process. Inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, “Reopening of the White House 1818”, the denomination, gold content, and purity.

Design: Donna Weaver (DW)
Modelling: Charles Vickers (CLV)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reopening
of the
White House
1818
CLV
DW
• E PLURIBUS UNUM • $10 • 1/2 Oz. .9999 FINE GOLD •

Edge

10 Dollars

Bullion Coinage
KM# 430
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.999
Weight 15.552 g
Diameter 26.5 mm
Thickness 1.88 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
West Point Mint (W)

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