The third release of the 24 karat gold coin series for 2011 featured Lucy Hayes. She was the spouse of the 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes and was the First Lady during his term from 1877 to 1881.
The Lucy Hayes First Spouse Gold Coin represented the twentieth overall release of the series, approximately at the half way point based on the current schedule. At the beginning of the series, there was an initial surge of interest, which quickly faded. By the third and fourth years of the series, some long term collectors of the series had emerged. As the more contemporary First Ladies are depicted, will interest in the series return?
On the obverse of the coin is a portrait of the First Lady, surrounded by the required inscriptions. These include her name "Lucy Hayes", the motto "In God We Trust", "Liberty", the order of the Presidency "19th", the years of the term "1877-1881", and the date and mint mark. The obverse was designed by Susan Gamble.
A scene from the first White House Easter Egg Roll is depicted on the reverse of the coin. The First Lady cheers on two children participating in the event. Inscriptions include "United States of America", the motto "E Pluribus Unum", "$10", and "1/2 oz. .999 fine gold". The reverse of the coin was designed by Barbara Fox.
The release date for the Lucy Hayes First Spouse Coins was September 1, 2011. On this date, the proof and uncirculated versions went on sale priced at $1,054 and $1,041, respectively. These price levels have fluctuated following the market price of gold.
Lucy Hayes First Spouse Coin Specifications
Date: 2011
Mint: West Point (W)
Mintage: Maximum 15,000
Designers: Susan Gamble (obverse), Barbara Fox (reverse)
Composition: 0.9999 Gold
Weight: 0.5000 troy oz. (15.554 g)
Diameter: 1.041 inches (26.49 mm)
Thickness: 0.074 inches (1.88 mm)