Martha Washington First Spouse Gold Coin

The Martha Washington First Spouse Gold Coin was the first edition of the First Spouse Gold Coins series that honours the United States’ Presidents’ spouses. The Martha Washington gold coins were officially released by the United States Mint to the public on 19th June, 2007.

Martha Washington served as the First Lady for President George Washington from the year 1789 to 1797, during President Washington’s in charge in the presidential office. The coins’ obverse were designed by Joseph Menna, which has the portrait and inscriptions of Martha Washington, “In God We Trust”, ‘the order of the Presidency”, “Liberty” as well as “1st”, that indicates that Martha Washington was the first First Spouse in the history of the United States.

Whereas the reverse was created by Susan Gamble, which portrayed Martha Washington during her younger years sewing a button back onto her husband’s uniform jacket. Other than the image, the reverse side of the coin’s inscription features “United States of America”, “First Lady of the Continental Army”, “E Pluribus Unum” that means “the one and only”, the face value of the coins which is “$10”, “½ oz” of gold content, and “.9999 Fine Gold” that indicates the purity of the gold coins.

During Martha Washington’s lifetime, she was often referred to as “Lady Washington”, in reference to her husband. The image of Martha Washington sewing her husband’s button jacket portrayed the concern she had for the soldiers involved in the Revolutionary War. She was also known as the strongest supporter of the army, hence, receiving the title “First Lady of the Continental Army”. She intended to encourage the people to their support to the army troops by first setting herself as the army supporter role model.

The Martha Washington First Spouse Gold Coins were circulated in two versions which are the proof and the uncirculated coins. Both proof and uncirculated coins were initially sold at more than $429 and $410 respectively. The US Mint sanctioned the mintage and the distribution of 40,000 Martha Washington gold coins on 19th June 2007 but the coins were sold out within a few hours on the first day of sale.

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