Final Day for Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins

With Margaret Taylor First Spouse Coins launching Thursday, Dec. 3, at noon ET, the US Mint will stop selling Van Buren’s Liberty gold coins, making Wednesday the final full day of sales.

Van Buren gold proof and uncirculated coins went on sale Nov. 25, 2008, for the respective prices of $549.95 and $524.95. With the rise in gold and after last week’s US Mint coin price increases, they now are offered for $754.00 and $741.00. Each coin includes one-half ounce of 24 karat, or .9999 fine gold. As of this writing, the gold spot price is at $1,208 an ounce, making the intrinsic value of each coin $604.

Collectors are taking note of the soon to be gone coins. Weekly sales numbers improved, with the latest US Mint report showing the proof and uncirculated options rising a respective 131 and 68 versus the prior 70 and 37. The following are the latest available figures as of Sunday, Nov. 29.

Currently, the totals are behind 2008 Jackson’s Liberty coins, which were released immediately prior to Van Buren’s Liberty. (2008 Louisa Adams First Spouse coins are the scarcest of the no longer sold US Mint coins. For a sales comparison of current and past offerings, visit First Spouse Gold Sales Figures.)

Dubbed "The Red Fox of Kinderhook" for his red hair, political acumen and birthplace in New York, Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States. America was prosperous when Van Buren took office, but less than three months later the panic of 1837 occurred and was quickly followed by a five-year depression. Van Buren was voted out of office, making him the third president to serve only one term.

Martin Van Buren’s wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren, had been deceased for almost two decades when he was elected as President. As such, the gold coins do not include a portrait of Hannah, but bear an obverse design that appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime between 1837 and 1891, originally executed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht. Inscriptions are IN GOD WE TRUST, 2008 and 1837-1841, the years Van Buren served as President.

The reverses or tails side bear an image of a young Van Buren in front of the tavern operated by his family in the town of Kinderhook, New York. The image was created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz. Inscriptions on the reverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.

While available, Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse gold coins may be purchased on the U.S. Mint product page:

First Spouse Gold

Orders may also be placed using the Mint’s toll free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may place orders and inquiries through TTY at 1-888-321-MINT (6468), Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET).