New to the United State Mint’s product schedule are release dates for three of the five 2013 First Spouse Gold Coins.

Obverse Designs of 2013 First Spouse Gold Coins

Interested collectors this year, like last, will have to spend money in a short time if they want them from the get-go.

Normally, the U.S. Mint tries to stagger coin releases from the same series by 2-3 months but production issues for two years in row have plagued the one-half ounce, 24-karat gold coins. The problems get resolved but result in little to no staggering.

This year there will be five 2013 First Spouse Gold Coins honoring and depicting:

• Ida McKinley,
• Edith Roosevelt,
• Helen Taft,
• Ellen Wilson and
• Edith Wilson

Read about their designs.

Most years there are four First Spouse Gold Coins. This year is different as Woodrow Wilson’s first wife, Ellen, died early into his first term as President. He married Edith while still president so both ladies are honored.

Release Dates & Mintages

As for the latest release dates published on the U.S. Mint’s schedule, coins honoring Ida McKinley launch on Nov. 14, 2013; those for Edith Roosevelt debut on Nov. 21, 2013 and the ones for Helen Taft go on sale Dec. 2, 2013. Those for Ellen and Edith Wilson are expected out in December, but firm dates are not available as of this writing.

Mintages this year are 10,000 coins for each first lady, down from the 13,000 listed for 2012. The coins are produced in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated with demand deciding how many for each.

That demand has retreated in recent years with final sales below originally announced mintages. As examples, sales of the 2012 First Spouse Gold Coins as of Oct. 13 are at:

*Proof Alice Paul gold coins sold out at a new mintage low, though it’s possible other proofs from last year may end lower.

This Coin News Extra article will get updated when release dates are published for the final two coins.