The 2015 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coin (Buy on eBay) represented one of the most anticipated releases of the series. The United States Mint established a higher maximum mintage than other recent issues in expectation of a sharp increase in demand.
The obverse design of the coin features a portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy designed by Susan Gamble and engraved by Phebe Hemphill. The obverse inscriptions read “JACQUELINE KENNEDY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST, “LIBERTY”, “2015 W”, “35TH” and “1961-1963”. The latter two inscriptions refer to the order of the Presidency and the years served in office.
On the reverse of the coin carries a depiction of the saucer magnolia that Mrs. Kennedy chose to have planted in the White House Garden and near the eternal flame at her husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery. The petals are shown stretching across the globe, with its tips connecting the points of some of Mrs. Kennedy’s most notable diplomatic visits. The reverse was designed by Benjamin Sowards and engraved by Jim Licaretz.
In the year leading up to the release of the coin, the Kennedy Half Dollar was celebrating its 50th anniversary with the release of a three-quarter ounce gold proof coin featuring the original restored portrait of President John F. Kennedy. The United States Mint believed that the close release of the gold Kennedy Half Dollar and Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coin would result in many collectors assembling special sets containing both of the coins. To account for this potential variable, the U.S. Mint announced a maximum issuance of 30,000 of the Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins, which was three times the maximum mintage established for the other 2015-dated releases of the series.
Sales for the Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coins began on June 25, 2015. For the start of sales the coins were priced at $790 for the proof version and $770 for the uncirculated version of the coin. These prices were based on a weekly average gold price within the $1,150.00 to $1,599.99 range. Pricing for the coins would remain subject to potential weekly change based on the prevailing price of gold.
On the opening day of sales, the U.S. Mint received orders for 7,102 proof and 3,792 uncirculated coins, attesting to the higher demand for the issue. Both versions would continue to remain available for sale into the following calendar year.
The proof version would eventually sell out early within 2016 at last reported sales of 11,222 pieces. This represented the highest sales figure for an individual coin of the series going all the way back to 2008. The uncirculated version would continue to remain available for sale into 2017.
Coin Specifications and Mintages
- Date: 2015
- Mint: West Point (W)
- Mintage: TBD
- Designers: Susan Gamble (obverse), Benjamin Sowards ( 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)
2015 First Spouse Gold Coins
- Bess Truman First Spouse Gold Coin
- Mamie Eisenhower First Spouse Gold Coin
- Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coin
- Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coin
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