Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coins Available

The Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coins are the first of the spouse series to appear in 2010. They are, however, fourteenth in the series as a whole.

The United States Mint placed the 24 karat, 1/2 ounce gold coins on sale today at noon ET. The collector proof version is priced at $729.00 while the uncirculated option is listed for $716.00. These prices can change weekly depending on the weekly average of the London gold fix.

The first spouse series honors former American first ladies and launched with coins honoring Martha Washington (the wife of the first President) in 2007. Since then, spouses of four presidents have been featured each year in the order upon which their husbands served.

For those who attempt to do the math, four presidents a year for three years (2007, 2008 and 2009) equals 12 presidents. So why are the Abigail Fillmore First Spouse Gold Coins the fourteenth set of coins instead of the thirteenth? 2009 actually saw two spousal coins issued in relation to President John Tyler. Tyler’s first wife died while he was in office. Since he re-married while still President, two coins were struck honoring his wives, Letitia and Julia.

Abigail Fillmore Biography

Considered one of the true working class first ladies, Abigail had a life-long passion for reading. She utilized her book knowledge to begin a career as a teacher at the young age of 16. While still working on her own education, she continued to teach and also met her future husband Millard Fillmore at the New Hope Academy in Sempronius, N.Y.

Upon their marriage, financial conditions required her to still teach until their first child was born two years later. This gives her the distinction of being the first spouse of a future President who continued to work after their marriage.

Politics and family life did not hinder Abigail’s commitment to learning. In fact, she took that zealous love of reading to the White House with her. Once in office, she persuaded her husband to ask Congress to appropriate funds for a White House Library, which she then founded.

Abigail Fillmore Coin Specifications

Each $10 face value coin is struck from 99.99% pure gold with a weight of 1/2 ounce. A maximum of 15,000 will be struck across all product options. The top mintage level has been substantially reduced, and for the first time. Past coins had maximum mintages of 40,000. However, outside the initial releases in 2007 which sold out, collector demand has remained well under 15,000 for the coins. (See First Spouse Gold Coin Sales Figures.)

2010 First Spouse Gold Coin designs were revealed by US Mint back in December. On the obverse of the Fillmore coin is a stately portrait of the first lady surrounded by the inscriptions ABIGAIL FILLMORE, 13TH 1850-1853, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and 2010. It was designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.

The reverse is the work of designer Susan Gamble and sculptor Joseph Menna and shows Abigail shelving books in her newly created White House Library. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10 and 1/2 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD all surround the scene.

Customers may order any of the available First Spouse Coins at the United States Mint Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/, or at the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling TTY 1-888-321-MINT (6468).