By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
On July 1, 2016, the United States Mint issued the 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse 1/2 oz $10 Gold Coin. The coin was struck in .9999 gold with a maximum authorized mintage of only 10,000 pieces across all finishes and all ordering options. Both the Proof and Uncirculated versions were struck at the West Point Mint and carry the “W” mintmark.
The Nancy Reagan $10 Gold Coin was the third and final First Spouse gold coin issued in 2016. These bullion coins were issued in concert with the base-metal golden Presidential Dollar series.
Who Was Nancy Reagan?
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 to get herself removed from a blacklist of communists working in Hollywood (she had been confused with another actress of 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 he died in 2004. Mrs. Reagan passed away on March 6, 2016.
As first lady, Nancy Reagan was most famous for her anti-drug advocacy. The slogan “Just Say No” is a well-remembered artifact of 1980s pop culture.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
Top Population: PCGS PR70DCAM (40, 10/2024), NGC PF70UCAM (239, 10/2024), and CAC N/A (0:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).
- PCGS PR70DCAM #81494584: “The Good Karma Lane Collection, Part II,” Heritage, October 9, 2023, Lot 51188 – $1,020. First Strike label.
- PCGS PR70DCAM #44787506: GreatCollections, May 8, 2022, Lot 1155582 – View.
- NGC PF70UCAM #4355262-005: GreatCollections, August 29, 2021, Lot 1041977 – View. First Spouse Series label.
- NGC PF70UCAM #4540645-015: GreatCollections, August 29, 2021, Lot 940885 – View. First Spouse Series label.
- NGC PF70UCAM #4602674-030: GreatCollections, January 10, 2021, Lot 930504 – View. First Spouse Series label.
- NGC PF70UCAM #4491895-012: Heritage, December 14, 2018, Lot 8394 – $780. Mike Castle signature label. First Spouse Series on insert.
- PCGS PR70DCAM #81494586: Heritage, April 29, 2018, Lot 8774 – $720.
- NGC PF70UCAM #4397749-006: Heritage, April 6, 2017, Lot 19038 – $822.50. First Spouse Series label.
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Design
Obverse:
The obverse of the 2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse Gold Proof Coin features a smiling Mrs. Reagan 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, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the year of issue 2016, and the West Point mintmark W. The dates of the Reagan Administration and her husband’s ordinal position in the list of presidents–40th 1981-1989–curve around the rim at the bottom of the coin.
Reverse:
United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer Joel Iskowitz is responsible for the reverse design featuring Nancy Reagan standing behind two children–one white, one black; one male, one female–with her hands on their shoulders. The designer’s 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 kitschy slogan.
Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the face value of $10, the weight 1/2 OZ. and the coin’s purity of .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.
Designers
Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Benjamin Sowards studied at Brigham Young University and Laguna College of Art and Design. He is known for his portraiture and fully painted book illustrations – including the Leven Thumps series of young adult fantasy novels. He has taught as Director of the Illustration Program at Southern Utah University since 2001.
United States Mint engraver Joseph Menna has more than three dozen coin and medal designs to his credit since joining the Mint in 2005. He became Chief Engraver in 2019 (View Designer’s Profile).
Joel Iskowitz joined the U.S. Mint’s design staff in 2005 and worked there until 2018. He currently takes part in the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) (View Designer’s Profile).
Don Everhart joined the United States Mint in 2004 after a long and successful career as a sculptor and designer of medals. He retired in 2017 and now participates in the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (View Designer’s Profile).
2016-W Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 Gold Proof Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 2016 |
| Denomination: | Gold $10 (USD) |
| Mintmark: | W (West Point) |
| Mintage: | 3,458 |
| Alloy: | .9999 Gold, .0001 Copper |
| Weight: | 15.55 g |
| Diameter: | 26.50 mm |
| Thickness: | 1.88 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer | Benjamin Sowards | Joseph Menna |
| REV Designer | Joel Iskowitz | Don Everhart |
| Quality: | Proof |
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