At 12 Noon (Eastern) today, the United States Mint launched the Sarah Polk First Spouse Gold Coins. Struck from 24-carat gold, these commemoratives honor Sarah who served as First Lady to James Polk, eleventh President of the United States.
Marking the twelfth design in the series of First Spouse coins, the Polk coins are available in either proof or uncirculated condition. The proof was set at a price of $654 with the uncirculated available for $641.
These prices are subject to change weekly based on the Mint’s pricing policy which links the market price of gold to the selling price for the precious metal coins. (For more information, see First Spouse Coins Price Grid.) A bronze medal in the likeness of the Sarah Polk gold coins will also be available for $3.50.
Sarah received an extensive education as a child, something quite uncommon for a woman of the time and this would serve her and her future husband well as he progressed up the political structure of the country.
Sarah actually met James Polk several years earlier, but the two were only wed in 1824. James was already involved in politics at the local level, and within a few years of their marriage, they would be moving to Washington D.C. when James was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Sarah worked diligently to ensure James’ success. She fulfilled the social obligations expected of a Representative’s wife and also helped write speeches and correspondence for her him.
James was elected President of the United States in 1845 and Sarah would continue to be a valuable asset to her husband by serving as his private secretary (the only first lady to do so). Sarah proved a popular First Lady, but did restrict social activities at the White House, owing to her devout Presbyterian faith.
Sarah Polk coin specifications, order details
Phebe Hemphill designed and sculpted both the obverse and reverse for the Sarah Polk gold coin. The obverse, or heads side, features a portrait of Sarah while the reverse, or tails side, shows Sarah sitting at a desk with James at her side working in the White House.
As each coin is struck at the US Mint’s West Point facility, a ‘W’ mintmark is present on the obverse. The coins are composed of one-half ounce of .9999 fine gold with a diameter of 26.49mm and a thickness of 1.88mm.
A maximum mintage of only 40,000 units will be struck across both product options, with the final ratio to be determined by customer demand.
The coins may be ordered from the US Mint’s online store located at:
The coins are also available by calling the Mint’s toll-free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).
For more information on the coin series, to include biographical information on the First Ladies, visit the CoinNews sister site at First Spouse Coins, or http://www.firstspousecoins.us.
[…] $10 Sarah Polk First Spouse Gold Coins were launched on September 3, 2009. Their upper mintage was set at 40,000 across both options, which obviously will not be […]