FS Dark Ages

We're about to descend into the "Dark Ages" of First Spouse collecting. The next four (4) years (2011-2014) will really test the meddle (no pun intended) of the "true" First Spouse aficionado.

Lofty gold prices and a string of (mostly) forgettable presidents brings the collectibility of their spouses into question. This should really turn most fair-weather FS collectors away from the series...if they haven't left already.

"Alice Paul"? ...fergetaboutit! It'll be tough enough to think up a design for "Francis Cleveland" once...but TWICE?! ...and "Lou Hoover"?...sounds like a baseball manager. I wouldn't be surprised to see some issues sell less than 2,000 coins.

...but if you're one of the intrepid few that can hang on until Eleanor Roosevelt comes around (Dec. 2014)...your loyalty may very well be rewarded...with a beautiful collection many collectors may want, but few will be able to call their own.


2011
Eliza Johnson
Julia S. Grant
Lucy Hayes
Lucretia Garfield

2012
Alice Paul
Frances Cleveland
Caroline Harrison
Frances Cleveland

2013
Ida McKinley
Edith Roosevelt
Helen Taft
Ellen and Edith Wilson

2014
Florence Harding
Grace Coolidge
Lou Hoover
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

2015
Elizabeth Truman
Mamie Eisenhower
Jacqueline Kennedy
Claudia Taylor Johnson

2016
Patricia Ryan Nixon


*Elizabeth Ford
*Nancy Reagan


*Can be honored with a First Spouse coin (President deceased for more than two (2) years). Not sure if they will skip over Rosalind Carter, though. The law is a bit vague in this area.

Are there any First Spouse collectors still out there? I feel like Will Smith in "I Am Legend"...sending radio messages to anyone that might still be alive.

 

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Not a FS collector myself, I just like following your threads on CT about them. Keep up the good fight!

 

Everyone I know is selling off their FS collections to focus on "real" coins. I wonder how many "complete" FS collections there will be when all the dust settles. "Not many" is my guess.

 

I have a feeling the 5oz. AtB coins could become next in line of limited sets, after the limited number of FS collectors seeking full sets, what with the fiasco they have turned out to be. The amount of time and money and effort to obtain these initial coins and any longer term changes to the mintage levels potentially creating "keys" seems like a repeat of what has happened to the FS coins, if not for popularity. The FS just don't appeal to most like 'Parks pucks' seem to but the backlash over AtB may turn noses against the new silver coin program. Those with a complete set of bullion and complete set of the TBD numismatic version AtBs may take the ranks of full set FS collectors someday. Sorry that was off topic, but it seemed comparatively a potential relevant thought to express.

 

Just wondering, is this going to be a limited run?

 

No it's a marathon.

 

Some are nice but not my cup of tea, interesting to follow tho as you gotta be aware of every coin type especially gold issues. My favorite one is not a wife at all, it's James Buchanan with lady Liberty on the reverse 2010, that's a great looking coin!! :thumb:

 

It's tough to see the low mintages overcomming the pure ugliness of the coins.

 

The gold spouses are a bit rich for my taste, but I do get the bronze medals for my wife as they come out. I was hoping to get her into the joys of coin collecting. Sadly, they are one of the items the mint is jacking up the prices on significantly for this year.

 

I agree with you on the America the Beautiful discs, but I think the popularity of the standard sized quarters is going to decline also. Most people don't really care all that much about the presidents (other than a few), much less their spouses. I wonder if the person who came up with that idea is still employed at the mint? Anyway, with the America the Beautiful quarters, a lot of the most iconic places are coming out the first 2 years. Even though there are about 58 national parks, which would have made for a nice coin program, like the state quarters from 1999-2009, the mint didn't want to have that. No; instead we have a second state quarter program where not only is every national park NOT represented, but because every state has to be represented, we end up with many second and third-tier sites. The Shawnee National Forest in Illinois? Really? You're kidding; right? Anyway, I think, as with the first spouses, as we go through the America the Beautiful dark ages, we will see the same decline in interest.

I know for myself, I did the majority of my serious America the Beautiful collecting the first year because, after looking at the entire release list, they're are, if you're lucky, maybe 20 sites that are worth a second look.

 

Just wait! After this fiasco is over...America's Great rivers and bodies of water! All states once again represented equally, as not to offend anyone (except coin collectors). By then we'll need a new gimmick theme for non-circulating golden dollar coins to clog up bank vaults some more. How about extict animals? Don't laugh, it's probably in the works. There seems to be a slight disconnect between the mint and the people they claim to please.

 

Just wait! After this fiasco is over...America's Great rivers and bodies of water! All states once again represented equally, as not to offend anyone (except coin collectors).


Too funny, but very true.

 

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What does amuse me about these coins is how often they prove wrong their detractors to be wrong. The appreciation on some of these coins has been mind boggling. I can see two reasons (maybe there are more) to collect numismatic items. The first is that you like it. So in this case it's a matter of opinion and everyone is entitled to one so basically irrelevant. The second is in future appreciation in numismatic value. This is where the detractors have been 100% wrong on the First Spouse coins as even some of the obscure coins, such as Julia Tyler, have shot to the moon as soon as they were sold out at the mint. IMO this is also a good looking coin.

I hope people keep calling them "uglies" cuz it means lower prices when they are being issued and high numismatic prices once they are unavailable for purchase. This has been going on since they were introduced.

With this said, I do agree with the OP there are not many in the next two years who would be noteworthy to the current population. One exception might be Grant's spouse as not only was he president, he was the general that lead the Union army that defeated the South in the Civil War. Lots of history surrounds him. Oh and he is on the $50 note. The Cleveland coins might also be an interesting sub-series. If the past is any indication on these coins, then I think consistent collectors will be rewarded handsomely for continuing with their interest.

 

Fatima...are you one of the few remaining FS collectors?! :thumb:

I really like this series because I really like US political history. Viewing each administration through the eyes of the First Spouse is a unique perspective. The First Spouse is as close as a "spectator" can get without actually being responsible for anything.

Even though prices have gone up quite a bit on some issues (in excess of gold prices), other issues are still readily available. Once the series ends and fewer and fewer people are willing to sell, I believe the prices will soar (imho)...we'll see!

 

I'm not sure what to think of the FS series. Is it going to go the way of the Postal Arts medals that seem to have very limited interest at this time? Will they become a forgotten and in 20 years it will be a special collectible? I believe it will take some time for interest in them to gain some momentum, but it will be long after they stop the series.

 

I picked up a Margaret Taylor Proof, Just in case only 4,787 made and the Julia Tyler Unc had only 2,861. Some of the liberty coins are trading for a small premium.

 

you are about to lose me unless you can arrange for a buchanan proof at mint price

 

don't give up. I was able to get an uncirculated Martha Washington for less than melt a couple of days ago. I understand that Buchanan's Liberty and Martha are two different animals, but the right auction at the right time...

 

yes u r right except i am retired so ....