Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2009, KM# 458, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Julia Tyler
  • 10 Dollars 2009, KM# 458, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Julia Tyler
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 Julia Tyler. The inscriptions include “Julia Tyler”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “10th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1844-1845", and the date and mintmark "W".

Julia Tyler (née Gardiner; 1820–1889) was the second wife of John Tyler, who was the tenth president of the United States. As such, she served as the first lady of the United States from June 26, 1844, to March 4, 1845.

Design: Joel Iskowitz (JI)
Modeling: Don Everhart (DH)

JULIA TYLER
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2009
W
JL DE
10th 1844-1845

Reverse

Depicts a scene of Julia Tyler dancing with her husband The reverse inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10”, the gold content “1/2 oz.”, and the gold purity “.9999 Fine Gold”.

Following the death of his wife in 1842, President John Tyler remarried on June 26, 1844 to Julia Gardiner Tyler. She acted as the First Lady for the last eight months of his Presidency.

John Tyler (1790–1862) was the tenth President of the United States (1841–1845). He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig ticket with William Henry Harrison and became president after his running mate's death in April 1841. President Tyler sought to strengthen and preserve the Union through territorial expansion, most notably the annexation of the independent Republic of Texas in his last days in office.

Design: Joel Iskowitz (JI)
Modelling: Don Everhart (DE)

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

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.999
Weight 15.554 g
Diameter 26.5 mm
Thickness 1.88 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
West Point Mint (W)

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