Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse gold coin and a bronze medal replica are now available from the United States Mint. The 1/2-ounce gold proof and uncirculated versions are priced at $549.95 and $524.95, respectively. Both have a face value of $10, are composed of 24-karat gold, and have an overall mintage limit of 40,000.
A bronze medal bearing the likeness of Van Buren’s Liberty coin is also available for $3.50.
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.
The Martin Van Buren First Spouse gold coin and medal design
Martin Van Buren’s wife, Hannah, died in 1819, making him a widower for 18 years when he became president. As a president who served without a spouse, the obverse ("heads" side) design of the first spouse gold coin bears a historical image of Lady Liberty. In this case, a reproduction of the Liberty Seated Dime originally designed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht and issued during Van Buren’s presidency.
Martin Van Buren holds the distinction of being the first president to be born in the United States, and the coin reflects his younger years in America. The reverse design depicts Van Buren as a young man at the family-operated tavern in the village of Kinderhook. It was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz.
Order information
Martin Van Buren Liberty First Spouse gold coins may be purchased on the U.S. Mint product page:
There is a limit of 10 coins per version in place. The medal may be purchased from the Mint page:
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).
I am glad to see that the US mint lowered the prices on the first spouse gold coins, as the sales numbers on the current coins from 2008 are way down. The 2007 release got sold out and the 2008 release to date has not even sold half of each coins total max numbers. I think because of the current financial crises the first spouse gold coins from 2008 will be a low population group in the first spouse coin series. I look forward to see population numbers from the US Mint when they come out next to see if… Read more »