It’s widely believed that the first Commemorative US Gold Coin to be struck was back in 1848. Since then, the US Mint has offered an array of silver, copper, and gold coins for anniversaries or special occasions. Below you can learn more about Commemorative US Gold Coins available at Provident Metals.
While most people consider the start of Commemorative US Gold coinage to be in 1892, others believe it actually started in 1848. The United States Mint issued a $2.50 (USD) gold coin that was stamped with the word “CAL” in reference to the California Gold Rush. However, most consider the 1892 release of a half-dollar coin to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the New World to be the first release.
From 1892 to 1952, the US Mint issued several different commemorative coins either honoring anniversaries of events or historical people. Commemorative coinage took a hiatus in 1954 for nearly three decades before making a return in 1982 with a George Washington 250th Anniversary Half Dollar. Since then, at least one commemorative coin has been issued by the US Mint every year except for 1985 and 2023.
The First Spouse Gold Coin Program was authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. These coins debuted in 2007 alongside the Presidential $1 Coin Series. Each coin in the series is dedicated to a First Lady of the United States.
These coins were released in the order in which the First Lady served. Each coin features a portrait of the First Lady on the obverse with the reverse depicting a design that represented a specific aspect of her life of legacy.
In total, there have been 42 releases in the overall series from 2007 to 2020. Martha Washington was the first to be featured in the series with Barbara Bush being the most recent. Every coin is struck in 1/2 ounce of 24-karat gold (0.9999 fine) with a face value of $10 (USD). Each release also has a proof version coinciding with it.
Some presidents served as a widower or a bachelor. Thus, a depiction of Lady Liberty from American coinage during that president’s term is featured on the obverse.
President John Tyler and President Woodrow Wilson had two wives during their terms. As such, the 10th and 28th releases of these coins featured designs for each wife. Furthermore, President Grover Cleveland was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Thus, Frances Cleveland is honored as the 22nd and the 24th release.
The US Mint over the years has released a wide array of $5 and $10 Commemorative Gold Coins. The US Mint first started issuing Commemorative US Gold Coins in 1892 and released them frequently until 1954. The US Mint went on a hiatus in terms of these releases for nearly 30 years until making a comeback in 1982. Since then, there has been a commemorative release every year with the exception of 1985 and 2023. Among the more popular options are:
In 2016, the US Mint recreated some of America’s most iconic coin designs. This release featured three popular designs from 1916 for the 100th anniversary. Each coin had a limited mintage, commemorative boxes, a Certificate of Authenticity, and 24-karat gold. These coins included the following:
We have a wide selection of Commemorative US Gold Coins at Provident Metals. For any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our customer service team is available at 1-800-313-3315. Additionally, we can also be reached through email or our online chat feature.