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In 2007, the United States Mint announced a new line of $10 gold coins commemorating the spouses of United States? presidents. These “first spouse” coins, created from a half-ounce of gold, feature beautiful portrait likenesses of these first spouses on the obverse, and another likeness on the reverse that portrays a scene from the spouse?s life and work.

The First Spouse Series of collectible gold coins is series unlike any other in U.S. history. While women who are important to the history of the United States have been featured on gold coins ? Susan B. Anthony, Sacajawea ? no series has ever commemorated American women by using gold as the coin material.

The First Spouse series of coins is an important undertaking, the first modern series of commemorative coins struck in gold on such a grand scale as this series. However, this series follows a long U.S. Mint?s modern tradition of commemorating with gold benchmarks in American history and the figures who made them possible.

1984 saw the U.S. Mint celebrating the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, by releasing the 1984 Olympic Ten Dollar Gold Eagle/Runner coin. No more than 2,000,000 of these coins were made.

To celebrate the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, the U.S. Mint created a Five Dollar Statue of Liberty Gold Coin that featured a striking image of Lady Liberty?s face on the obverse, and the American Eagle on the obverse. The Five Dollar Statue of Liberty Gold Coin was limited to a run of 500,000, making this a very collectible coin.

The U.S. Constitution?s Bicentennial in 1987 saw the creation of a Constitution Bicentennial Gold Five Dollar Coin. Likened in appearance to antique gold coins, the Constitution Bicentennial Gold Five Dollar Coin?s obverse featured a stylized American Eagle holding a quill pen, while the reverse was inscribed with the “We the People” slogan. 1,000,000 of these coins were produced.

In 1989, it was time to commemorate the Bicentennial of the U.S. Congress. A Five Dollar Gold U.S. Congress Bicentennial Coin was issued, designed with an image of the Capitol Dome on the obverse, and an image of an eagle atop the canopy above the Old Senate building on the reverse. This coin was limited to a production of 1,000,000.

For Mount Rushmore?s 1991 anniversary, a Five Dollar Gold Mount Rushmore coin was produced, featuring the inscription “Mount Rushmore National Memorial” on the reverse, and an image of the American Eagle overlooking Mount Rushmore on the obverse. Only 500,000 of these coins were produced.

Christopher Columbus? Quincentenary was commemorated in 1992 with the Five Dollar Christopher Columbus coin. The obverse of this coin featured an image of Christopher Columbus facing a map of the New World, while the reverse was engraved with the Crest of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea. This collectible coin was limited to a production of 500,000.

1993 saw the production of two commemorative gold coins. The Bill of Rights Commemorative Five Dollar Gold Coin featured an obverse image of James Madison studying the Bill of Rights, and a reverse image of an eagle, olive branch, and torch framing a Madison Quote. The World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Five Dollar Gold Coin featured WWII servicemen on the obverse, and an interesting image of the victory “V” on the reverse, superimposed with the Morse Code for the letter “V.” Both of these collectible coins were limited to production of 300,000 coins each.

The Civil War of the United States was commemorated in 1995 with a Five Dollar Civil War Battlefield coin. The obverse of this coin was detailed with the universal image of a bugler calling the troops, while the image on the reverse pictured the bald eagle. Only 300,000 of these coins were produced.

In 1996, the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution was celebrated with the Smithsonian 150th Anniversary Gold Five Dollar Coin. This coin?s simple, elegant design featured a portrait of Smithsonian founder James Smithson on the obverse, with the Smithsonian?s trademark sunburst pictured on the reverse. A relatively small number ? 100,000 ? of these collectible coins were minted.

Again in 1997 two different commemorative gold Five Dollar coins were minted. One celebrated the achievements of Jackie Robinson, and depicted Robinson on the obverse, while the phrase “Legacy of Courage” was featured on the reverse. The other paid tribute to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, featuring FDR?s portrait on the obverse, and an image of the Presidential Seal used during FDR?s inauguration in 1933 on the reverse. Both coins were limited to runs of 100,000.

George Washington was commemorated in 1999 with a Five Dollar Gold Coin. Featuring a bust of Washington on the obverse, and an eagle with it?s wings spread on the reverse, only 100,000 of these coins were minted.

In 2001, the U.S. Capitol Visitor?s Center was featured on two different runs of the same Five Dollar gold coin design. Both an uncirculated version and a proof version of this coin were produced, with variations between the two, although both depicted images of a Corinthian column and the original Capitol Building. These coins were produced in a run of 100,000.

Orville and Wilbur Wright were the subjects of a Ten Dollar gold coin produced in 2003 to celebrate the centennial of the first U.S. Flight. On the obverse was a portrait of the Wright brothers, while the reverse depicted the American eagle and the Wright Bros. plane soaring together. The production of this coin was limited to 100,000.

The U.S. Mint got the opportunity to celebrate it?s own work in 2006 with the creation of the San Francisco Old Mint Five Dollar gold coin. This coin, which featured the Old San Francisco Mint on the obverse, along with a replica of the eagle image on the 1906 Half-Eagle Coronet on the reverse, was limited to a mint of 100,000.

2006 also saw the release of the gold proof and gold bullion versions of the One Dollar American Buffalo coin, a reproduction of the 1913 Buffalo nickel. These coins are still in production as of 2008.

The colonial settlement of Jamestown was commemorated in 2007, marking the settlement?s 400th anniversary with a Five Dollar gold coin. This extraordinarily detailed and beautiful coin depicted John Smith greeting a Native American on the obverse, and a rendering of the ruins of the Jamestown Church, the only remaining structure from the original settlement, on the reverse. 100,000 of these coins were produced.

The First Spouse Coin Series introduced in 2007 is expected to remain in production for several years. As only four coins are introduced per year, these coins are an affordable investment for gold coin collectors.

The history of the United States may be short on years, but it?s vast in experience and in the people who have made it possible. The U.S. Mint seeks to immortalize these historic figures and events in gold coins that numismatics and novices alike can enjoy ? and learn from!

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