Stating the obvious, there has been a delay in the release of the 2012 First Spouse Gold Coins. Normally by this time of year, three of the four one-half ounce, 24-karat gold coins would have been issued.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, the U.S. Mint published the following message on the home page of its online store, the First Spouse Gold Coin sales area and on its product schedule page:
Announcement: The United States Mint has encountered problems with producing some of the 2012-dated First Spouse Gold Coins. Once the problems are resolved and final trial strikes approved, the First Spouse Gold Coins will be struck at the United States Mint at West Point and bear the "W" mint mark. The West Point facility has production capacity to strike all four coins in proof and uncirculated qualities. As soon as we are certain the quality of these coins meets the standards you have come to expect, we will announce on-sale dates for each one. We apologize for the delay in releasing these coins.
Currently, just two First Spouse Gold Coins are for sale. Both are 2011-dated and proof versions. One honors Lucretia Garfield and the other celebrates Lucy Hayes.
2012 gold coins honor Alice Paul and the suffrage movement, Frances Cleveland (first term), Caroline Harrison and Frances Cleveland (second term). Their designs were first revealed back in April.
For reference, sales of the 2011-dated spousal coins follow.
Sales Figures for 2011 First Spouse Gold Coins
| Latest Sales | Weekly Gains | Mintages | |
| 2011 Eliza Johnson First Spouse Proof | 3,907 | NLA | 6,812 of 15,000 |
| 2011 Eliza Johnson First Spouse Uncirculated | 2,905 | NLA | |
| 2011 Julia Grant First Spouse Proof | 3,969 | NLA | 6,930 of 15,000 |
| 2011 Julia Grant First Spouse Uncirculated | 2,961 | NLA | |
| 2011 Lucy Hayes First Spouse Proof | 3,522 | 25 | 5,810 of 15,000 |
| 2011 Lucy Hayes First Spouse Uncirculated | 2,263 | NLA | |
| 2011 Lucretia Garfield First Spouse Proof | 3,161 | 44 | 5,703 of 15,000 |
| 2011 Lucretia Garfield First Spouse Uncirculated | 2,498 | NLA |
NLA = No Longer Available. Sales figures are as of September 10, 2012.
