Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 593, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Florence Harding
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 593, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Florence Harding
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 Florence Harding. The inscriptions include “Florence Harding”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “29th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1921-1923", and the date and mintmark "W".

Florence Mabel Harding (née Kling; 1860–1924) was the first lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923 as the wife of President Warren G. Harding.

Florence first married Pete De Wolfe and had a son, Marshall. After divorcing him, she married the somewhat-younger Harding when he was a newspaper publisher in Ohio, and she was acknowledged as the brains behind the business. Known as The Duchess, she adapted well to the White House, where she gave notably elegant parties.

Design: Thomas Cleveland (TC)
Modelling: Joseph Menna (JFM)

FLORENCE HARDING
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2014
W
TC JFM
29th 1921-1923

Reverse

Depicts a multifaceted image representing significant aspects of Mrs. Harding’s role and accomplishments as First Lady. The initials WWV at the top of a lit torch signify her role in championing the cause of World War I veterans. The torch transitions to a pen at the base to signify her extensive correspondence with veterans, spouses, and widows. The image of a camera appears at right to represent Mrs. Harding’s role in orchestrating photo opportunities to support her husband’s presidential campaign. A ballot box appears at left to represent her distinction as the first First Lady to cast a vote for a presidential candidate in an election.

The inscriptions include “United States of America”, the motto “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10”, the precious metal weight and purity of “1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold”.

Design: Thomas Cleveland (TC)
Modelling: Don Everhart (DE)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• E PLURIBUS UNUM • $10 • 1/2 Oz. .9999 FINE GOLD •

Edge

10 Dollars

Bullion Coinage
KM# 593
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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