Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2012, KM# 534, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Caroline Harrison
  • 10 Dollars 2012, KM# 534, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Caroline Harrison
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 Caroline Harrison The inscriptions include “Caroline Harrison”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “23rd”, the dates of the Presidential term "1889-1892", and the date and Mintmark "W".

Caroline Lavinia Harrison (née Scott; 1832–1892), was a music teacher and the first wife of President Benjamin Harrison. She was the first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death. She was the second first lady to die while serving in that role.

She secured funding for an extensive renovation of the White House and oversaw the work. Interested in history and preservation, in 1890 she helped found the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and served as its first President General.

Design: Frank Morris (FM)
Modelling: Michael Gaudioso (MG)

CAROLINE HARRISON
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2012
W
FM MG
23rd 1889-1892

Reverse

Depicts an orchid and paintbrushes to represent the First Lady’s interest in china painting. Inscriptions appear surrounding the image reading “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, “$10”, and “1/2 oz. .999 Fine Gold”.

China painting, or porcelain painting, is the decoration of glazed porcelain objects such as plates, bowls, vases or statues. The body of the object may be hard-paste porcelain, developed in China in the 7th or 8th century, or soft-paste porcelain (often bone china), developed in 18th-century Europe. The broader term ceramic painting includes painted decoration on lead-glazed earthenware such as creamware or tin-glazed pottery such as maiolica or faience.

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

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

Edge

10 Dollars

Bullion Coinage
KM# 534
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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