Starting demand for U.S. Mint issued 2012 Alice Paul coins was the strongest in the bureau’s collectible 24-karat gold coin series since 2010.
On Thursday, October 11, the U.S. Mint released the proof and uncirculated Alice Paul and the Suffrage Movement Gold Coins. By Monday, October 15, collectors ordered a total of 3,202, with splits of 1,808 proof and 1,394 uncirculated. The total easily outpaced the starting performances of any of last year’s first spouse coin releases.
For comparison purposes, here is a snapshot of how Alice Paul gold coin sales stack up against the opening sales of older First Spouse Gold Coins:
| First Spouse Gold Coins | US Mint Issue Date | Debut Sales | Latest Sales |
| 2012 Alice Paul Suffrage Movement Gold Coin | Oct. 11, 2012 | 3,202 | |
| 2011 Lucretia Garfield First Spouse Gold Coins | Dec. 1, 2011 | 2,352 | 5,844 |
| 2011 Lucy Hayes First Spouse Gold Coin | Sept. 1, 2011 | 2,122 | 5,939 |
| 2011 Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins | June 23, 2011 | 2,598 | 6,930 |
| 2011 Eliza Johnson First Spouse Gold Coin | May 5, 2011 | 2,108 | 6,812 |
| 2010 Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coins | Dec. 2, 2010 | 5,505 | 10,669 |
| 2010 Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin | Sept. 2, 2010 | 6,127 | 12,652 |
| 2010 Jane Pierce First Spouse Gold Coins | June 3, 2010 | 2,434 | 8,176 |
| 2010 Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coin | Mar. 18, 2010 | 2,881 | 9,629 |
| 2009 Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins | Dec. 3, 2009 | 2,839 | 8,217 |
| 2009 Sarah Polk First Spouse Gold Coin | Sept. 3, 2009 | 2,605 | 8,658 |
Demand for the 99.99% fine gold coins has improved for some of the more recent issues as collectors have found their lower mintages very appealing.
Alice Paul Suffrage Movement Gold Coins have the added attraction of being unique. Unlike past First Spouse Gold Coins that were released as a companion to a Presidential $1 coin featuring a President who was not married while in office, it does not depict an image of Lady Liberty. Plus, the coin debuted much later in the year than intended, and that can tend to build pent up demand.
