Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 595, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Lou Hoover
  • 10 Dollars 2014, KM# 595, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Lou Hoover
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 Lou Hoover. The inscriptions include “Lou Hoover”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “31st”, the dates of the Presidential term "1929-1933", and the date and mintmark.

Lou Hoover (née Henry; 1874–1944) was the wife of President Herbert Hoover and served as the first lady of the United States from 1929 to 1933.

Marrying her geologist and mining engineer husband in 1899, she traveled widely with him, including to Shanghai, China, and became a cultivated scholar and linguist. She made extensive study of languages including Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, German, Italian and French. As First Lady, she oversaw construction of the presidential retreat at Rapidan Camp in Madison County, Virginia, and was the first First Lady to make regular nationwide radio broadcasts.

Design: Susan Gamble (SG)
Modelling: Michael Gaudioso (MG)

LOU HOOVER
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2014
W
SG MG
31st 1929-1933

Reverse

Depicts a 1920’s style radio set. The design is intended to recognize Mrs. Hoover as the first First Lady to give a public radio address. An inscription reads “First Public Address April 19, 1929”. Additional inscriptions read. 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: Richard Masters (RM)
Modelling: Jim Licaretz (JI)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
RM JL
FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS
APRIL 19, 1929
• 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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