Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2013, KM# 561, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Ida McKinley
  • 10 Dollars 2013, KM# 561, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Ida McKinley
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 Ida McKinley. The inscriptions include “Ida McKinley”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “25th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1897-1901", and the date and mintmark "W".

Ida McKinley (née Saxton; 1847– 1907) was the first lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901, as the wife of President William McKinley.

Born to a successful Ohio family, Ida met her future husband and later married him during the early Reconstruction years. She never recovered from losing their daughters as infants and remained in a fragile state of health for the rest of her life, including having seizures. During campaigns and while in office, her husband took great care to accommodate her needs, as they were a devoted couple. Ida's ability to fulfill the role of First Lady was nevertheless limited. She was brought further grief by the deaths of her brother and later her husband, as McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist. Ida devotedly visited her husband's resting place daily until her own death.

Design: Susan Gamble (SG)
Modelling: Phebe Hemphill (PH)

IDA MCKINLEY
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2012
W
SG PH
25th 1897-1901

Reverse

Depicts an image of two hands crocheting. This was intended to be representative of Ida McKinley’s work in crocheting thousands of slippers which were auctioned to raise money for charity. The inscriptions around the circumference include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, “$10”, “1/2 oz.”, and “.9999 Fine Gold”.

Design: Donna Weaver (DW)
Modelling: Renata Gordon (RG)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DW RG
• 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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