George H.W. and Barbara Bush Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set Released

Following a four year gap in the series, the United States Mint released today their 2020 George H.W. and Barbara Bush Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set.

The pair of collectibles honors the 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara. The uncirculated dollar is issued under the U.S. Mint’s Presidential $1 Coin Program with the medal appearing as a continuation of their First Spouse Program.

Both series ran from 2007 to 2016, honoring former presidents and first ladies in the order in which they served in office. At that time, all deceased former presidents had been featured. The programs were extended this year with the passage of the President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act (Public Law 116-112).

Bush died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94 with Barbara passing earlier in the year on April 17th.

Rolls and bags of Bush $1 coins debut earlier this month. The likeness of the President shown on coin obverses (heads side) was chosen from among 11 design candidates. The dollar’s winning portrait was designed by Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Elana Hagler with Mint Chief Engraver Joseph Menna sculpting.

Inscriptions around the likeness read: "GEORGE H.W. BUSH," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "41st PRESIDENT," and "1989-1993."

Like all Presidential $1 Coins, the reverse (tails side) bears an image of the Statue of Liberty as designed and sculpted by former Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," and "$1" are inscribed around Lady Liberty.

Edge inscription on each include "2020," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and a mint mark for where the coin was made.

Collectible 2020 Barbara Bush First Spouse Gold Coins launched in August. Like the gold coins, the medal shares the portrait of Barbara on the obverse along with the inscriptions of "BARBARA BUSH," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "2020," "41st" and "1989-1993." The design was created by AIP artist Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill.

Mrs. Bush’s passionate advocacy for family literacy is depicted on the reverse with a person reading and an open road before them. The open book is said to symbolize literacy, education, and knowledge with the road indicative of the journey of life, and the sun in the distance is the promise of a brighter future. This design was created by AIP artist Barbara Fox and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw.

Limits, Ordering and Price

Limited to 10,000 units, the 2020 George H.W. and Barbara Bush Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set may be purchased directly from the U.S. Mint’s online store for $25.

Both the coin and medal were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and appear together attached to a durable plastic card enhanced with representations of the President and Mrs. Bush.