Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 594, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Grace Coolidge
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 594, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Grace Coolidge
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 Grace Coolidge. The inscriptions include “Grace Coolidge”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “30th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1923-1929", and the date and mintmark "W".

Grace Anna Coolidge (née Goodhue; 1879–1957) was the wife of the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. She was the first lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929 and the second lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923.

As her husband advanced his political career, Coolidge avoided politics. When Calvin Coolidge was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1919, she remained at home in Northampton with their children. After her husband's election as vice president in 1920, the family moved to Washington, D.C., living at the Willard Hotel. Coolidge did not speak out on political issues of the day, including women's rights. Instead, she dedicated herself to supporting popular causes and organizations, such as the Red Cross and the Visiting Nurse Association. After the death of her son Calvin in 1924, she won the sympathy of the country. Unlike previous first ladies, who had withdrawn almost entirely from the public spotlight after personal tragedies, Coolidge resumed her role after a few months.

Design: Joel Iskowitz (JI)
Modelling: Phebe Hemphill (PH)

GRACE COOLIDGE
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2014
W
JI PH
30th 1923-1929

Reverse

Depicts an image of three hands finger-spelling the letters USA in American Sign Language against the backdrop of the White House. The education of deaf children was Grace Coolidge lifelong passion. The surrounding inscriptions include “United States of America”, the motto “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10”, and the precious metal weight and content “1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold”.

Design: Frank Morris (FM)
Modelling: Jim Licaretz (JL)

UNITED STATES OF AMERIC
FM JL
• 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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