Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2008, KM# 433, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Martin Van Buren's Liberty
  • 10 Dollars 2008, KM# 433, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Martin Van Buren's Liberty
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 the design which originally appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime, minted between 1837 and 1891. The obverse inscriptions include “Liberty”, “8th Presidency”, “In God We Trust – 2008”, the dates of the Presidential term “1837-1841”, and the mint mark “W”.

Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) was an American politician who served as the eighth President of the United States (1837–1841). Van Buren was blamed for the depression of 1837; hostile newspapers called him "Martin Van Ruin". In foreign affairs, he wanted the United States not to annex Texas.

Design: Christian Gobrecht

8th PRESIDENCY
LIBERTY W
1837-1841
IN GOD WE TRUST~2008

Reverse

Depicts a young Martin Van Buren reading a book under a tree. In the background is the tavern operated by his family in Kinderhook, New York. The reverse inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10”, and the gold content and purity “1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold”.

Design: Thomas Cleveland
Modelling: James Licaretz

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
JL
TC
• E PLURIBUS UNUM • $10 • 1/2 Oz. .9999 FINE GOLD •

Edge

10 Dollars

Bullion Coinage

First Spouse Program
Martin Van Buren's Liberty

Subscribe series
KM# 433
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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