HomeUS CoinsUnited States 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Coin

United States 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Coin

United States 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Coin. image courtesy U.S. Mint

Description:

On July 1, 2016 the United States Mint issued the 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse 1/2 oz $10 Gold Coin. The coin is struck in .9999 gold and has a maximum authorized mintage of only 10,000 pieces across all ordering options. The coin was struck at the West Point Mint and carries the “W” mintmark. It comes in two finishes, Proof and Uncirculated.

The Nancy Reagan $10 Gold Coin is the third and last gold coin in the U.S. Mint’s First Spouse Gold Coin Program issued in 2016. First Spouse gold coins are issued in concert with the base-metal golden Presidential dollar series. The Nancy Reagan $10 Gold Coin is also the 39th and final gold coin issued in the series.

Nancy Davis Reagan was born Anne Frances Robbins in New York City on July 6, 1921. After her parents separated, her mother eventually married a Chicago neurosurgeon named Loyal Davis, whose last name Anne adopted. Using her nickname “Nancy”, Ms. Davis became an actor in Hollywood movies like Donovan’s Brain (1953).

In 1949, Nancy Davis contacted Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) president Ronald W. Reagan in order to get herself removed from a blacklist of communists working in Hollywood (she had been confused with another actress with the same name). Ms. Davis began dating the recently-divorced Reagan–the only president ever to have done so–and the two were married in 1952. Her marriage to the 40th president of the United States of America lasted until his death in 2004. Mrs. Reagan passed away earlier this year (2016) on March 6.

As first lady, Nancy Reagan is most famous for her anti-drug advocacy. The slogan “Just Say No” is a well-remembered artifact of 1980s’ pop culture.

Obverse:

The obverse of the 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse Gold Coin features a smiling Mrs. Reagan was designed by Benjamin Sowards; his initials “BS” are found to the left of the first lady’s neck. U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver Joseph Menna engraved the obverse; his initials “JFM” are located to her right. Inscriptions include NANCY REAGAN, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the year of issue 2016 and the West Point mint mark “W”. The dates of President Reagan’s administration and his ordinal position in the list of presidents–“40th 1981-1989”–curves around the rim at the bottom of the coin.

reverse, United States 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Coin. image courtesy U.S. Mint

Reverse:

United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer Joel Iskowitz is responsible for the reverse design, which features Nancy Reagan standing behind two children–one white, one black; one male, one female–her hands on their shoulders. His initials “JI” are near the boy’s right shoulder. Reagan’s bearing is genial and maternal. The children, representative of the fact that Mrs. Reagan’s message of drug abstinence was for all of America’s youth, no matter their race, sex or socio-economic background, are wearing t-shirts with her effort’s famous and somewhat kitschy slogan.

Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, 1/2 OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD – as mandated by law.

Mint sculptor Don Everhart engraved the reverse; his initials “DE” are next to the girl’s left shoulder.

Edge:

Like all of the coins in the 10-year First Spouse 1/2 oz Gold Coin series, the Nancy Reagan Gold Coin has a reeded edge.

Designer(s):

United States Mint engraver Joseph Menna has more than three dozen coin and medal designs to his credit since joining the Mint in 2005 (View Designer’s Profile).

Joel Iskowitz joined the U.S. Mint’s design staff in 2005 (View Designer’s Profile).

Don Everhart joined the United States Mint sculpting and engraving department in 2004, after a long and successful career as a sculptor and designer of medals (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications:

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  2016
Denomination:  Gold $10
Mint Mark:  W
Mintage:  10,000
Alloy:  .9999 Gold
Weight:  1/2 Oz.
Diameter:  26.5 mm
Thickness:  1.88 mm
Edge:  Reeded
OBV Designer Benjamin Sowards | Joseph Menna
REV Designer Joel Iskowitz | Don Everhart
Quality:  Proof, Uncirculated

 

Keep up with all the latest coin releases from the United States Mint by clicking on CoinWeek’s Modern U.S. Coin Profiles Page.

CoinWeek IQ
CoinWeek IQ
With CoinWeek IQ, the editors and writers of CoinWeek dig deeper than the usual numismatic article. CoinWeek IQ provides collectors and numismatists with in-depth information, pedigree histories, and market analysis of U.S. coins and currency.

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