By: Seth Riesling

Seth Riesling — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 02:07:11 +0000

It is interesting to note that her legal birth name was Thelma Catherine Ryan & was never “Patricia,” although her parents & close friends early on gave her the nickname “Pat”! Funny that the U.S. Mint uses different names for the First Ladies on this gold First Spouse coin series. The Mint seems to go with what most people assume (wrongly) was their real legal (birth name)! For example, First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson was born Claudia Alta Taylor (yet her gold First Spouse $10 coin has the inscription “Lady Bird Johnson”). I met her twice in Texas on trips to San Antonio from Austin after LBJ died at my favorite & her favorite truly authentic Mexican restaurant in San Antonio (El Mirador) where she & many local & national politicians would meet to eat great, fresh, nationally recognize real Mexican food recipes in the very small restaurant almost unknown to tourists. She, of course, was always accompanied by at least two Secret Service agents & ate in the private “Texas Room” of the tiny restaurant. But being a professionally-trained journalist & consummate politician (she was the first First Lady to tour by herself around the USA, during President LBJ’s campaign), she always made time to greet customers at the restaurant on her way to her private dining area. On one of the visits, I got up the nerve to ask her why people refused to call her by her birth name “Claudia” & she told me “Young man, you can’t fight a nickname in the Great State of Texas you know!” She & I laughed & I will never forget that short but sweet meeting of a great Southern Lady in all respects. She later, by mail request, hand-autographed a copy of the Public Law granting her the Congressional Gold Medal for the beautification of the USA & her wildflower research center here in the Austin area for my autograph collection where it resides with the 3-inch & 1.5-inch bronze versions of the medal the Mint sells to the public (it has the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet, on the reverse). What an amazing Texas lady!

-NumisDudeTX

By: joe#2

joe#2 — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 03:41:07 +0000

The 2 best are Jackie K. and will be Nancy R.

By: Boz

Boz — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:59:49 +0000

Did any of them sell?
Could be the sleeper of the series if nobody bought due to the increased costs.

Comments on: 2016 Patricia Nixon First Spouse Gold Coins Launch

By: Seth Riesling

By: joe#2

By: Boz