2015 First Spouse Gold Coins Design Candidates

The First Spouse Gold Coin Program will draw closer to its conclusion next year with the release of coins honoring the spouses of the 33rd to 36th Presidents of the United States. The coins will feature the First Ladies Elizabeth Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Claudia Taylor Johnson.

Under the authorizing legislation for the one-half ounce 24 karat gold coin program, the obverse design of each coin is to depict a likeness of the First Spouse and the reverse is to contain images emblematic of the life and work of the First Spouse. The United States Mint recently released five to eight different design candidates for the obverse and reverse of each coin. The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will provide their recommended designs from the field of candidates. Ultimately, the final designs will be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after taking into account the recommendations of each group.

Full coverage of the CFA and CCAC reviews and recommendations will follow on Coin Update. For now, here is a look at the design candidates for each of the 2015 First Spouse Gold Coins.

Bess Truman First Spouse Gold Coin Design Candidates

FS-BT-O-01-C FS-BT-O-02-C FS-BT-O-03-C FS-BT-O-04-C FS-BT-O-05-C FS-BT-O-06-C FS-BT-O-07-C FS-BT-R-01-C FS-BT-R-02-C FS-BT-R-03-C FS-BT-R-04-C FS-BT-R-05-C FS-BT-R-06-C

Mamie Eisenhower First Spouse Gold Coin Design Candidates

FS-ME-O-01-C FS-ME-O-02-C FS-ME-O-03-C FS-ME-O-04-C FS-ME-O-05-C FS-ME-R-01-C FS-ME-R-02-C FS-ME-R-03-C FS-ME-R-04-C FS-ME-R-05-C FS-ME-R-06-C

Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse Gold Coin Design Candidates

FS-JK-O-01-C FS-JK-O-02-C FS-JK-O-03-C FS-JK-O-04-C FS-JK-O-05-C FS-JK-O-06-C FS-JK-O-07-C FS-JK-O-08-C FS-JK-R-01-C FS-JK-R-02-C FS-JK-R-03-C FS-JK-R-04-C FS-JK-R-05-C

Lady Bird Johnson First Spouse Gold Coin Design Candidates

FS-LJ-O-01-C FS-LJ-O-02-C FS-LJ-O-03-C FS-LJ-O-04-C FS-LJ-O-05-C FS-LJ-O-06-C FS-LJ-O-07-C FS-LJ-R-01-C FS-LJ-R-02-C FS-LJ-R-03-C FS-LJ-R-04-C FS-LJ-R-05-C FS-LJ-R-06-C FS-LJ-R-07-C FS-LJ-R-08-C

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Comments

  1. TMMSR says

    I like

    BT-O-05-C
    BT-R-06-C
    ME-O-02-C
    ME-R-05-C
    JK-0-07-C
    JK-R-02-C
    LJ-O-06-C
    LJ-R-01-C

    But I remain open….

  2. Ikaika says

    With all due respect. Can we actually call the person that submitted design 04 for Jackie Kennedy an artist? That is anything else but Jackie 🙁

  3. Blair J Tobler says

    My picks are:

    BT-O-03-C
    BT-R-03-C
    ME-O-05-C
    ME-R-04-C
    JK-O-08-C
    JK-R-02-C
    LJ-O-07-C
    LJ-R-01-C

  4. gary says

    Portraits, my favorites:
    Bess Truman BT-05
    Mamie Eisenhower ME-05
    Jacqueline Kennedy JK-08
    Ladybird Johnson LJ-01

  5. Louis says

    I think 08 is excellent for Jackie too and depending on gold prices, I would consider getting it even though I stopped buying these a while ago. 08 really brings out her beauty.
    07 is decent too, but like the rest of you, I think the others of her are really weak and do not look like her. 02 for Jackie reverse.
    Not sure about all the others yet.

  6. Matt says

    My first thought of version four obverse for Mrs. Kennedy: “when did Honest Abe Lincoln become a first spouse?!”

  7. Louis says

    Jackie with 08 could be the first spouse sell out since 2007, though I am sure they will raise the mintage for that one.

  8. Louis says

    Jackie 01 resembles her daughter Caroline, our ambassador to Japan, and 06 looks like a statue (or someone else of course).

  9. Tinto says

    Though I don’t collect FS I will buy the Jackie O if it has obverse 08, really brings out her beauty. l

  10. Tinto says

    (continued) would buy it regardless of the reverse chosen … so long as it is 08 obverse. (both proof and unc)

  11. Louis says

    It’s unanimous! As I have said many times, people tend to rally quickly around great designs. By people I mean collectors and buyers.

  12. GoldFishin says

    Jackie obverse 08 reverse 02 and I will buy my first FS. Obverse 07 looks more like a younger Sandra Bullock.

  13. Tinto says

    That Jackie obverse 06 really reminds me of the a US commemorative issued years ago, the special Olympics or something similar ……

  14. Louis says

    @Pittsburgh- True, but I am pretty confident they will see it that way too. I was in fact planning to listen today to the meeting until I found out it was all day!

  15. Louis says

    Off topic: My Abalone shell coin just shipped!

    So who is springing for a 5 oz HR bald eagle? Modern Coin Wholesale has the best price with cc payment from what I have seen.

  16. VA Rich says

    Ikaika – a Sandra Bullock coin with a Ms. Congeniality look – a sell out in the first day! I’ll 2nd that!

    Sharks2th – those two Proof-like Unc $1 BHoFs (not the first ones, but the second batch with the even more pronounced proof-like finish), I checked the grades on the PCGS website, no proof-like designation which is a bummer. I sent in 11 Topgun coins – the best of the best, I’ll be back later with the results.

  17. Ikaika says

    @ Louis

    Got burned by the Perth Mint once. Came back after several years to buy the WTE’s. Got burned twice. No more Perth mint products for me, period.

  18. MarkInFlorida says

    Maybe they need to hire fifth graders as artists to save money since the coins aren’t selling well.

  19. Ikaika says

    All of us wanting to buy the Kennedy FS might get real lucky price wise. If gold continues in the downward trend maybe they will sell for under $700.

  20. Eddie says

    Jackie O 08 is the best one out of the entire lot. I would buy that one and I it would be my first FS coins.

  21. says

    I’m hooked on 02 as the perfect reverse design for Jackie’s FS coin. Knowing the Mint, they will choose either the 01 or 04 designs. 04 would have to be my second choice, which invokes a sense of reverence, and 01 in it’s lighthearted symbolism would be used because it’s a balanced design, most likely to agree with most potential buyers. Not my favorite, but I think the Mint will use 01 for the reverse.

  22. Jon in CT says

    For the Jacqueline Kennedy coin reverse, I enthusiastically vote for the vintage TV image (reminds me of an old Magnavox). It, of course is an allusion to the hour-long “White House Tour” hosted by Mrs. Kennedy as a CBS TV black & white program broadcast in 1962. You can watch it here.

  23. Dave SW FL says

    Jackie with 08 & prefer 02 for reverse. I will buy at least 2 each of PF&UNC

    This will be the most popular FS coin and will maintain its premium even though it will have a large mintage (or early sellout – one can only hope!)

    America absolutely went nuts for this woman. She was loved by Dems & Reps and Independents. The country’s heart went out to her, especially during the funeral activities. That is why I prefer the 02 reverse.

  24. Pittsburgh P says

    I like Sandra Bullock 🙂

    Ikaika how did you get burnt?

    Louis I’m tempted by the 5 oz HR Bald Eagle but I’ll probably pass right now.
    That’s a long meeting – I hope you’re correct though & they pick the right design but I have been disappointed before…

  25. Louis says

    Since you folks seem to be history buffs and Jackie fans there is a new book excerpted in the latest Vanity fair which argues that despite seeming like she was holding things together after JFK was killed she actually really fell apart and was suicidal, etc. But eventually she got better through help from friends, all the letters she received, etc.

  26. Ikaika says

    @PP

    If you collect the WTEs you will understand. Most of us were pretty excited about the series until they decided to mint the 5oz and 2oz gold proof. With a price tag of around $10K that is out of reach for the average collector. Plus the platinum coming soon. This and many others like sending us email for products that are no longer available, sales policy, overpriced products, etc…….

  27. gary says

    The Perth mint’s facilities seem to be available to anyone with a design they want made and struck to order.

  28. Pittsburgh P says

    Ikaika yep I do and understood… I cut out the WTEs after the bullion was released!

    Gary that is the truth…

  29. Louis says

    I don’t have any plans to ever buy, nor could I, those huge gold and platinum wedge tails, and think it is overkill. But I don’t really care if they do that. I buy what I like and can afford and there is no need to have them all esp. with the same design on each. It’s like the platinum proof eagles, which I like but consider overpriced and can’t afford. But I don’t blame the Mint for making them. It’s also like the argument Dave Harper made against the JFK gold, that is until months later when he changed his mind and decided he likes it, saying that since it is so expensive and many can’ afford it, it should not be made. Huh?

  30. Pittsburgh P says

    Louis I agree with you and also buy what I like but I think most peoples issue with popular issues like the WTE is they’d like to be able to aquire the entire set or at least the first year of release. If it is only one really expensive piece maybe alot of people could stretch or justify buying it but when they put out of 7 the same design & 8 next year ,as you said, it is overkill! Over half are well over 1000$… It does not bother me as much and like I said I just stopped after the HR silver & gold, proof, and bullion… I’ll just continue getting those with the exception of the HR gold. I am pretty sure they will not be releasing a platinum this year also that’s why I said 7 this year.
    I don’t think they shouldn’t be made because most can afford them but are they even being sold?

  31. jeff says

    Well one thing is for sure they won’t elicit anyone’s opinion from this blog remember buy what you like it won’t really matter anyways what portrait they decide on…

  32. Louis says

    @PP- I have not seen anything yet about the wedge tails for the overprivileged as far as actual releases, just reports that they are coming.

  33. VaBeachSteve says

    I was referring to the silver 5oz. GovMint also had the graded gold but it was wayyyyyy over my budget

  34. VA Bob says

    That Mamie 01 looks terrible. It looks either like 1) her husband Ike in drag, or 2) Howdy Doody with a wig.

    I’m always a little skeptical when the Mint shows these line drawings with shading. IMO it never quite translates to the metal as the drawing depicts. 08 for Jackie. The 01 looks more like her Kennedy – Onassis years. The 05 profile tries to hard to look like other circulating coinage. The 04 would put her right in the pack with the other spouses for the year.

  35. Pittsburgh P says

    @Louis what is that supposed to mean?

    Ikaika that articled was released in July and was for planned releases. I’ve learned since then that they will not be releasing the platinum this year from a seemingly credible source…

  36. VA Bob says

    Concerning the Wedge Tail or any other Perth Mint, Royal Mint, or Royal Canadian Mint… how many portraits of the queen are enough for a collection? Maybe if they put Kate Middleton on the reverse (unlikely, her balding husband, no offense to the balding, will probably take that spot). Personally I like the option to immediately identify a coin in my collection even with the reverse side up. Hats off to the queen aficionados, or those that can consistently appreciate half a coin, that collect these coins though.

  37. Jon in CT says

    VA Bob wrote on September 23, 2014 at 9:11 PM:

    … how many portraits of the queen are enough for a collection?

    Well, don’t you think you have enough coins with portraits of Washington or Lincoln by now? How many do you really need?

  38. Tinto says

    Hopefully if they go with 08 for Jackie, they will do that image justice when transferring it to the coin ….. I still remember a while ago when the Mint had issues (so they said) with minting the FS coins, leading to delays … maybe they now have somebody competent who also wants to get the job done right …

  39. Gary S says

    I haven’t been buying any of these, but I am in for a Jackie…..she is a hottie!

    Any chance the Kennedy Silver Half Dollar set will have a price reduction before they go on sale?

  40. VA Bob says

    Now you can go back to bed Jon. Sorry to if I upset your Queen Elisabeth fetish sensibilities (not really).

  41. Jon in CT says

    VA Bob wrote on September 23, 2014 at 9:40 PM:

    Washington and Lincoln isn’t on every US coin I buy

    But, to paraphrase you, how many of them are enough for a collection?

  42. VA Bob says

    Well since every US coin doesn’t have Lincoln and Washington on the obverse, but the queen is on every coin made in those three countries the last 60 years or so, I would say I don’t have near as many coins with the same person on it as people that collect from those nations. In fact I’d say the percentage of my coins with Lincoln or Washington on them is quite small. Does that answer your question or are you just fishing for attention again? I really don’t have time for your prying, especially in response to my personal preference. I don’t give a damn what you collect and don’t care to know a thing about you really. Consider my response to you as charity.

  43. Jerry Diekmann says

    VA Bob and Jon in CT: Washington and Lincoln deserve to be on our coins FOEVER since withou them theree would be no USA. And they are on just some coins, not every one, like QE2. VA Bob is right – all those UK mand Commonwealth coins are just half a coin. What has the queen ever done noteworthy in her entire life? What has any monarch in any country in the last several hundred years done that was noteworthy, or even important, or let’s cut to the chase – even good? Kings and queens are leftover from the Dark Ages and are total drones, accomplishing nothing. We revolyed against that nonsense over 200 years ago. But some countries still honor these people because they were born rich.

  44. Dave says

    Just checking in — I don’t know, I might make a half _ss attempt to buy one, if so, it is Jackie for sure!

    I do own a Washington & Dolly in ’70’ only because I won bids for under $200.00 each back when.

    Yeah, can you believe it? No kidding.

  45. Dave says

    @VA Bob says –September 23, 2014 at 10:53 pm:

    “I don’t give a damn what you collect and don’t care to know a thing about you really. Consider my response to you as charity.”

    You go boy — I think he is “fishing” again and probably did not take his meds today; I am concerned about his instability.

  46. Dave says

    @VA Bob says :September 23, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    “Now you can go back to bed Jon”

    Really? You meant “bed?” In my mind I read something else — LOL!

  47. Dave says

    @Gary S says — September 23, 2014 at 9:44 pm:

    “I haven’t been buying any of these, but I am in for a Jackie…..she is a hottie!”

    Yeah — she is . . . me too!

  48. Dave says

    @Dave says — September 23, 2014 at 11:24 pm:

    “Hmmm — looks like I am blogging/posting to myself again, eh?”

    Hey Dave, did you win them on fleecebay.

  49. sharks2th says

    BT – O – 03 or 02
    R – 03
    ME – O – 05
    R – 06?, None?
    JK – O – 08
    R – 03
    LJ – O – 07, 05, 04
    R – 01, 02, 06
    Some of the selections are horrible. I could do better than some of these and I don’t have any skills drawing humans.

    I agree on a Sandra Bullock gold coin. She’s a Virginia girl.

    VA Rich – I’m interested in what you get back on the bhof silvers. I keep mine in ogp. Maybe we’ll have to meet to see which ones are the most polished and reflective. The second order I received was definitely more polished and I thought the first ones were proof like.

  50. Dave says

    @VA Bob says – September 23, 2014 at 11:28 pm:

    “Dave – I’m trying to keep a civil tone. It’s pretty difficult at times. 😉 ”

    Yeah, I know — I finally had to advise him that I would not be responding to him anymore, after he called me a name; then he had the nerve to tell me, that he doubted me and thought I would continue to respond.

    Well — I have not, wonder what he thinks now (rhetorical only).

  51. Dave says

    @Dave says — September 23, 2014 at 11:31 pm:

    “Yeah, I did — I think is Proof and one is Mint State, haven’t seen them for awhile.”

    Sell them & buy the Jackies.

  52. Jon in CT says

    VA Bob wrote on September 23, 2014 at 10:53 PM:

    In fact I’d say the percentage of my coins with Lincoln or Washington on them is quite small. Does that answer your question.

    No. Maybe you could answer your own question posed earlier — How many of those coins are enough for your collection?

  53. VA Bob says

    Most everyone says Jackie is hot. I suppose in comparison to other first ladies this is true, but she couldn’t seem to satisfy JFK. Now, we’ll probably never really know if the problem was him (as most opinions would agree to) or her, things were kept a lot more quiet back then or at least the media was not inclined to mention it. Whatever the reason, good looks couldn’t keep him from straying. Now Bill Clinton I can fully understand his philandering. Bill’s career needed a wife, she needed a way to gain the power she craves. Both know where the bodies are buried, so they will be together a long time.

  54. Jon in CT says

    VA Bob wrote on September 23, 2014 at 11:46 PM:

    501,237 Why do you care? lol moron.

    Quoted for posterity. 😯

  55. Dave says

    @VA Bob says — September 23, 2014 at 11:44 pm:

    “Now Bill Clinton I can fully understand his philandering. Bill’s career needed a wife, she needed a way to gain the power she craves. Both know where the bodies are buried, so they will be together a long time.”

    LOL! Yeah, I agree. I have heard some interesting rumors about some of her (H’s) own philandering. If you know what I mean?

  56. Dave says

    @VA Bob says — September 23, 2014 at 11:55 pm:
    “Jon in CT” ignored for posterity.”

    I think you meant it like this — “post”- er – ity.

  57. Dave says

    @VA Bob says — September 23, 2014 at 11:55 pm:

    “Jon in CT” ignored for posterity.”

    I think you meant it like this — “post”- er – ity.

  58. A&L Futures says

    @ VA Rich et. al,

    I wanted to share this with you all. It comes from Sierra’s Hope FB page. You may recall some discussion of this in a previous thread. Anyways…here’s her message:

    “We are continuing to gather donations and we are grateful for every penny!! Whether its a $5 donation or larger we are thankful for each and every one. A huge shout out to A&L Futures for a very generous donation, they listed a coin for sale on eBay and all the proceeds went directly to Sierra’s Hope!! A&L Futures donated $1950. We are extremely grateful for such a generous donation. Then A&L posted about their eBay auction and about Sierra’s Hope on a coin collector blog, (link below). In turn other collectors have been kind and donated directly through our gofundme account. Thanks to everyone for your continuing support!!!”

    Again, thanks to all of you for your help.

  59. Harry Baskins says

    After the completion of the First Spouses series, the Mint should start the First Mistresses series, of course also in gold. Virtually all the presidents had mistresses so a complete set could be issued. For example, there is Sally Hemmings for Jefferson, Marilyn Monroe for Kennedy, Kay Summersby for Ike, etc. Interestingly, perhaps only Richard Nixon never had a mistress. I bet Marilyn Monroe would easily sell out.

  60. Jon in CT says

    It was exactly one year ago today that I offered you zhlobs reading the Mint News Blog one of the best stock tips you’ll likely ever see. On the morning of Sept 24, 2013, my research led me to post some comments, exclusively on the Mint News Blog, about a big Mint contract win by a micro-cap company called PFSweb. On that day, 67,100 shares of PFSweb were traded at prices ranging from $5.17 to $5.41. Yesterday, 196,588 shares of PFSweb were traded at prices ranging between $9.92 and $10.69, and finally ending at $10.63. For the many readers who are arithmetically-challenged, the price of PFSweb stock has essentially doubled this past year.

  61. Jon in CT says

    BTW, the Mint has published more details about upcoming planned outages:

    Web Site & Call Center Outage for Transition to the New Shopping Website:

    • The United States Mint’s online catalog will not be available from Saturday, September 27 at 8 p.m. ET until Wednesday, October 1 at 12 noon.
    • The Customer Service Call Center will not be available from Saturday, September 27 at 8 p.m. until Sunday, September 28 at 8 a.m. ET.
    • Sunday, September 28 at 8 a.m. ET, the call center will reopen and will be available to perform order inquiries ONLY until October 1, 2014 at 12 noon.
    • Effective October 1, 2014 at 12 noon ET, we will resume normal business operations at our new shopping website and call center.
    • Get a sneak peek of the new site, including important customer details and FAQs.

    We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

  62. fmtransmitter says

    Scrolled up, saw more arguing with Jon..Left…Maybe if enough of us say something he will be blocked??

  63. Jon in CT says

    Sith wrote on September 24, 2014 at 10:34 AM:

    Jon in CT – And a two bagger is the best you got?

    Well, it’s only been a year, so I think it’s too soon to tell whether PFSweb will turn out to be a Peter Lynch ten-bagger.

  64. Sith says

    Jon in CT – True enough, but then don’t state that your tip was”one of the best stock tips you’ll likely ever see.” It is way to early to tell. As one of the “zhlobs reading the Mint News Blog” maybe I should be impressed but somehow I’m not…now pat yourself on the back for that two-bagger and move on. Just curious did you cash out, or are you still waiting for it to become a Peter Lynch ten-bagger.? Just a word of advice “a rising tide lifts all boats,” but “only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.”

  65. Dave says

    @Harry Baskins: September 24, 2014 at 8:34 am:

    “After the completion of the First Spouses series, the Mint should start the First Mistresses series, of course also in gold”

    LOL!!

  66. Dave says

    @stephen m says– September 24, 2014 at 8:14 am:

    “Is Jon in CT rude and arrogant or what. Just her silly game playing but it’s real to him.”

    Is “Jon” a male or a female? (or Hermaphrodite?)

  67. Sith says

    @Dave – Thank you for re-posting that comment it was funny, but yuck Monika, and once again all I would care about is Kennedy’s coin (Marilyn). I’m also not sure if Condoleezza Rice deserves a coin.

  68. Dave says

    Gold price suppression covered fully by GATA’s Chris Powell on ‘The Larry Parks Show’

    Among the aspects discussed were the U.S. government’s having authorized itself to rig all markets secretly, the U.S. government documents recently disclosed showing that central banks are trading secretly in all major U.S. futures markets, the other documents GATA has compiled proving the gold price suppression scheme, why the gold mining industry refuses to do anything about it, why the scheme will keep succeeding until gold investors shun “paper gold,” and the treason of the central bankers in developing countries.

  69. Dave says

    @Dave SW FL says — September 24, 2014 at 2:51 pm:

    “Monica would never get a 70 grade due to stain on her dress. But it’s an easy 69!”

    Plus the slabbed coin would then later develop the dreaded white spots!

  70. Dave says

    Hey, did you hear? I guess at some point (before they took it down), the Mint had info on a possible “Terrorists Take Down series,” by US Govt; starting with Ben Lauden.” obverse would show a picture of Ben Laudin wih a hole in his forehead and reverse would depict, the American Eagle pecking out his eyeball.

    Series would be produced only after each successive confirmed strike/kill.

    The reverse side would also have inscribed, “Revenge is A Dish Best Served Cold!”

  71. Leo S. says

    I’m old enough to remember what they all looked like so here is my vote on the Ladies.

    Bess – BT-0-07-C
    Mamie – ME-0-05-C
    Jackie – JK-0-08-C (If they pick any of the other ones the committee is crazy.)
    Lady Bird – LJ-0-02-C

  72. Dave says

    No determination yet on what precious metal would be used and what denomination. Rumor has it, maybe Platinum to help boosts sales.

  73. Jerry Diekmann says

    VaBob – You must have got a Washington or Lincoln coin that I missed. I just finished counting all of my Lincolns and Washingtons (no duplicates, if you can believe that) and I only have 501,236 coins. I wonder which one you have that I don’t have????

  74. Jerry Diekmann says

    Jon in CT – Not to discount what you have said about PFSWeb having a good run this past year, but many stocks have doubled inprice in the last year. Sometimes a rising tide lifts all ships – it works in reverse too, like in 2008 and 2009.

  75. Louis says

    For those who had doubts about whether the CCAC members would like obverse 8 for Jackie, read the article in posted just now in Coin Update and you will see they agreed with us.

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