US Gold Coins Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse $10 Dollars Gold Coin
President of the United States, 1837–1841
The Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin represents one of the four issues of the “Liberty subset.” These coins feature depictions of Liberty from classic United States coins for instances in which Presidents served in office without a spouse. This issue had the lowest overall mintage within the subset.
The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 contains a provision to provide continuity of the First Spouse Gold Coin Program during those times in which a president served without a first spouse. This provision applies to Martin Van Buren, whose wife Hannah Hoes Van Buren died in 1819. Married in 1807, Van Buren was a widower for 18 years when he became president in 1837. During his term, his daughter-in-law, Angelica, performed the role of hostess of the White House and First Lady of the United States.
The gold coins issued to accompany any president who served without a spouse will each feature a design emblematic of Liberty on its obverse, as depicted on a United States coin issued during the President's time in office. For Martin Van Buren’s presidency, the selected image appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime coin from 1837–1891, and was originally executed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht.
The obverse of the coin features the design which originally appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime, minted between 1837 and 1891. The obverse inscriptions include “Liberty”, “8th Presidency”, “In God We Trust – 2008″, the dates of the Presidential term “1837-1841″, and the mint mark “W”. The obverse was designed by Christian Gobrecht.
The reverse of the coin features a young Martin Van Buren reading a book under a tree. In the background is the tavern operated by his family in Kinderhook, New York. The reverse inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10″, and the gold content and purity “1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold”. The reverse was designed by Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by Jim Licaretz.
Born in New York in December of 1782, Martin Van Buren holds the distinction of being the first president to be born in a newly independent Nation. His family operated a tavern in the town of Kinderhook, a primarily Dutch enclave located on the post road between New York City and Albany. Here, young Martin was exposed to political ideology at an early age, as local and state politicians would often gather at the Van Buren establishment as they traveled between the two cities.
Coin Specifications and Mintages
Date: 2008
Mint: West Point (W)
Mintage: 6,807 (proof), 3,826 (uncirculated)
Designers: John Reich (obverse), Justin Kunz (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)
The Van Buren’s Liberty Gold Coin represented the final release of the series for the year and the eighth release of the series overall. Sales officially began at the United States Mint on November 25, 2008. Pricing was set at $549.95 and $524.95 for the proof and uncirculated versions, respectively. This represented a decreased level from the prior release, due to the lower market price of gold.
Ordering limits were set at ten coins per option per household.
Sales of the Martin Van Buren’s Liberty Gold Coin ended on December 3, 2009. Out of a maximum authorized mintage of 40,000, the US Mint reported final mintages of 6,807 proof coins and 3,826 uncirculated coins. The total of 10,633 was lower than the prior Andrew Jackson’s Liberty coin, but still above the next previous release featuring Louisa Adams.
US Gold Coins
First Spouse Gold Coins Program
2007 First Spouse Gold Coins
2008 First Spouse Gold Coins
Martin Van Buren’s Liberty
2009 First Spouse Gold Coins
2010 First Spouse Gold Coins
2011 First Spouse Gold Coins
2012 First Spouse Gold Coins
2013 First Spouse Gold Coins
2014 First Spouse Gold Coins
2015 First Spouse Gold Coins