2015 Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins Launch

At noon ET today, Aug. 27, the United States Mint launches their one-half ounce, 24-karat 2015-W $10 Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins.

Two collector options are available, proof and uncirculated. These fine gold pieces feature designs emblematic of Claudia Taylor Johnson, better known as Lady Bird, the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson who was the 36th President of the United States.

The First Spouse Gold Coin series debuted in 2007. They honor spouses of former U.S. Presidents in the same order in which they served. This year’s issues include:

• 2015 Bess Truman First Spouse Gold Coins (released on April 16)
• 2015 Mamie Eisenhower First Spouse Gold Coins (released on May 7)
• 2015 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins (June 25)
• 2015 Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins (this issue)

These coins represent the thirty-fifth through thirty-eighth in the series.

Designs of Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins

On the Lady Bird Johnson gold coins, two designs were chosen from fifteen candidate designs that consisted of seven obverse (heads side) portraits and eight reverse (tails side) scenes based on her life. Reviewing parties for the artwork included the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee and the United States Commission of Fine Arts. Their input, and that of U.S. Mint officials, influenced the Treasury Secretary’s final selections.

Designed by Linda Fox and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso, the obverse depicts a portrait of the former First Lady. Inscriptions of "LADY BIRD JOHNSON," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "2015," "W," "36th" and "1963 – 1969" surround here image.

Designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by Renata Gordon, the reverse represents Mrs. Johnson’s efforts for beautification and conservation of America by showing a scene containing the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and flowers.

Inscriptions include “BEAUTIFY OUR CITIES, PARKS & HIGHWAYS” above the design, and surrounding the image are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "$10," "1/2 OZ.," and ".9999 FINE GOLD."

Ordering, Prices and Limits

When released, 2015-W $10 Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coins are available directly from the United States Mint’s online store via this link. Place phone orders at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

At this writing, the proof coin is $765 and the uncirculated coin is $745. These prices are subject to change weekly, as the U.S. Mint re-evaluates gold coin pricing based on market fluctuations. The two gold coins are limited to a combined mintage maximum of 10,000 with the ratio of proof to uncirculated determined by actual orders.

A certificate of authenticity is included with each coin, and it ships encapsulated inside a custom designed, highly polished, dome-chested, lacquered hardwood presentation case. All First Spouse Gold Coins are struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point, and they carry the corresponding ‘W’ mint mark.

Lady Bird Johnson Bronze Medals

The United States Mint also produced bronze medal replicas of First Spouse Gold Coins. Lady Bird bronze medals are in two releases later this year.

This includes the Lyndon Johnson Presidential $1 and First Spouse Medal Set that is due to release on Sept. 3 for $9.95. Following it is the Sept. 21 release of the 2015 First Spouse Medal Set for $16.95. It includes bronze medal replicas of all four first ladies honored this year.

For a brief summary about Mrs. Johnson’s life, visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/first-ladies/ladybirdjohnson.