Alice Paul First Spouse Gold Coin
General Coin Information
The Alice Paul First Spouse Gold Coin will be the first strike in 2012 released by the US Mint as part of the First Spouse Gold Coin series. The obverse of the strike will contain a portrait of Alice Paul (famous American suffragist) while the reverse will contain a design emblematic of the suffrage movement.
Congress dictated the likeness of Alice Paul on the obverse and the suffrage movement reverse when it passed the authorizing legislation of the series included as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-145). Typically, if a former President served without a spouse, the mythical figure of Liberty was to be used on the obverse with a theme relating to the President on the reverse. However, when it came to the First Spouse Coin associated with the Chester A. Arthur Presidency, Congress chose to honor the suffrage movement and Paul instead.
One of the reasons for the choice of honoring Paul and other suffragists on the Arthur associated coin was because he served in office from 1881-1885 without a spouse (his wife had passed away a year before he assumed the Presidency). His last year in office was also the same year in which Paul was born (1885).
Two coins will be released by the US Mint honoring Alice Paul and suffragists - the Alice Paul First Spouse Gold Proof Coin and the Alice Paul First Spouse Gold Uncirculated Coin. These two coins will feature identical obverse and reverse imagery but will be struck with different finishes.
Obverse Design
An image of Alice Paul will be showcased on the obverse of the coin. Obverse inscriptions will include "ALICE PAUL," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "2012," "21ST" and "1881-1885."
Reverse Design
Shown on the reverse of the coin will be a design emblematic of the suffrage movement as required by Congress. The design will be surrounded by the inscriptions of "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "E PLURIBUS UNUM", "$10", "1/2 OZ.", and ".9999 PURE GOLD.
Paul Coin Specifications
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Mint: United States Mint Mintmark: W Finish/Condition: Proof / Uncirculated Metal Content: .9999 Fine Gold Weight: 0.5000 troy oz (15.554g) Diameter: 1.043 inches (26.49 mm) Edge: Reeded Issue Date: TBA Issue Price: based on gold price Mintage Limit: TBD Face Value: $10 Obverse Designer/Sculptor: TBD Reverse Designer/Sculptor: TBD |
Featured Presidential Spouse Coin Auctions
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 ★ 2007 W $10 Gold First Spouse ABIGAIL ADAMS UNC MS 70  US $1,065.00
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 ★ 2007 W $10 Gold 1st Spouse MARTHA WASHINGTON MS 70 US $1,075.00
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 ★ 2007 W $10 Gold First Spouse JEFFERSON UNC US $1,095.00
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 ★ 2007 W $10 Gold First Spouse ABIGAIL ADAMS PROOF 70 ULTRA CAMEO US $1,095.00
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 2007 FIRST SPOUSE MARTHA WASHINGTON PROOF GOLD US $1,199.00
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 2007 FIRST SPOUSE JEFFERSON PROOF GOLD US $1,199.00
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 2007 ABIGAIL ADAMS FIRST SPOUSE PROOF GOLD US $1,199.00
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 2011 W ELIZA JOHNSON FIRST SPOUSE $10 GOLD NGC MS70 US $988.99
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Paul Gold Coin Resources
- Mint Information Page
- Alice Paul Biography - AlicePaul.org
- First Spouse Coins
