The United States Mint released the 2011 Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins on Thursday, June 23, at 12 PM Eastern Time. The 24-karat gold coins are the second of four issues in the First Spouse series for this year and the nineteenth since they were introduced in 2007.
Julia Grant was the country’s First Lady while her husband Ulysses S. Grant served as the eighteenth President of the United States between 1869 and 1877. The collector coins honoring her are struck from 1/2 ounce of 99.99 percent fine gold and have opening prices of $929.00 for the proof and $916.00 for the uncirculated.
Released by the United States Mint also on Thursday is a 1 5/16 inch Julia Grant bronze medal for $7.95. The bronze medal shares the same designs as those found on the Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins.
Julia Dent Grant, friendly and sociable, grew up on a plantation called White Haven near St. Louis, Missouri. She met her husband, Ulysses S. Grant, when her brother who attended West Point with Grant brought him home. Julia and Ulysses became engaged in 1844 but married four years later as Ulysses was serving in the Mexican War. After their wedding, Julia accompanied her husband to military posts whenever she could. She described her life as happiest when they were in the White House.
Julia Grant Gold Coin Designs
A portrait of Julia Grant is seen on the obverse or heads side of the coin. The image was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso. Obverse inscriptions include "Julia Grant," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY", "2011," "W" (denoting the US Mint facility at West Point), "18th", and "1869-1877."
The reverse or tails side of the coin shows a scene of a young Julia Dent and Ulysses S. Grant horseback riding at her family’s plantation in White Haven, now known formally as the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. The design was created by Richard Masters and executed by Charles L. Vickers. Reverse inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "$10," "1/2 OZ.," and ".9999 FINE GOLD."
Order, Mintage and Pricing Information
Orders for the Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins and bronze medal can be placed at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT (6468).
A $4.95 shipping and handling charge is added to all domestic orders, with the coins’ ship date expected to beginning by July 14. There are no household order limits. The United States Mint has placed a maximum mintage cap of 15,000 across both options.
Each gold coin is sold separately. It is encapsulated and packaged in a polished, custom-designed, lacquered hardwood presentation case with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The Mint’s pricing policy for its First Spouse Gold Coins can result in up to weekly changes in prices. The policy is based on a seven-day average of the London Fix gold price. The current average, which is calculated by using Thursday through to the following Wednesday fixings, resides between $1,500.00 and $1,549.99 an ounce. Should the average move outside the range, Julia Grant coin prices will move up or down by $25.
Related US Mint Products
First Spouse Gold Coins are issued in the same order as the Presidential $1 Coins. The United States Mint released the Grant $1 into circulation on May 19, 2011.
A set containing the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin and the Julia Grant bronze medal are scheduled for release on July 7.
Other 2011 spouse coins and their release dates include:
- Eliza Johnson (released on May 5, 2011)
- Lucy Hayes (scheduled to be issued on September 1, 2011)
- Lucretia Garfield (scheduled to be issued on December 1, 2011)
About the United States Mint
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.
