Today, June 25, the United States Mint released their one-half ounce, 24-karat 2015-W $10 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins.
Available in two collector finishes, proof and uncirculated, the gold pieces feature designs emblematic of Jacqueline, the wife of John F. Kennedy who was the 35th President of the United States.
The series of First Spouse Gold Coins was introduced in 2009. They honor spouses of former U.S. Presidents, in the order in which they served. Those that are being issued in 2015 include:
- 2015 Bess Truman First Spouse Gold Coins (released on April 16)
- 2015 Mamie Eisenhower First Spouse Gold Coins (released on May 7)
- 2015 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins (this issue)
- 2015 Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins (estimated release in August)
These issues represent the thirty-fifth through thirty-ninth in the series.
Designs of Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins
On the Jacqueline Kennedy gold pieces, two designs won out of thirteen candidate designs that consisted of eight obverse (heads side) portraits and five reverse (tails side) scenes based on her life. Reviewing parties for the artwork included the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee and the United States Commission of Fine Arts. Their input, and that of U.S. Mint officials, effected the Treasury Secretary’s final selections.
Designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, the obverse offers a forward-looking portrait of the former First Lady. Her image is surrounded by inscriptions of "JACQUELINE KENNEDY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "2015," "W," "35th" and "1961 – 1963."
Designed by Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Jim Licaretz, the reverse features the saucer magnolia Mrs. Kennedy chose to be planted in the White House garden and also near the eternal flame at her husband’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery. The petals stretch across the globe, its tips connecting the points of some of her most notable diplomatic visits.
Inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "$10," "1/2 OZ.," and ".9999 FINE GOLD."
Ordering, Prices and Limits
2015-W $10 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins are available directly from the United States Mint’s online store via this link. Phone orders are accepted at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Currently, the proof coin is $790 and the uncirculated coin is $770. These prices are subject to change weekly, as the U.S. Mint re-evaluates gold coin pricing based on market fluctuations. The two coins are limited to a combined mintage maximum of 30,000 and the ratio of proof to uncirculated will be determined by actual orders.
Expecting demand to be strong, the mintage level is 20,000 higher than other recent issues. There are no household ordering limits, meaning buyers can order as many as they like.
A certificate of authenticity is included with each coin, as it ships encapsulated inside a custom designed, highly polished, dome-chested, lacquered hardwood presentation case. All First Spouse Gold Coins are struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point and carry the corresponding ‘W’ mint mark.
Jacqueline Kennedy Bronze Medals
Bronze medal replicas of First Spouse Gold Coins are also produced by the United States Mint. Jacqueline Kennedy bronze medals will be featured in two releases later this year.
This includes the Kennedy Presidential $1 and First Spouse Medal Set that is due to release in July for $9.95. It will be followed in September with the 2015 First Spouse Medal Set that will feature bronze medal replicas of the four first ladies honored this year. The price for this set has not been announced.
To read about Mrs. Kennedy’s life, visit: www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Life-of-Jacqueline-B-Kennedy.aspx.
