US Mint: Types of Gold Coins Scheduled for Issue in June 2011

In June 2011, the US Mint scheduled several products for issue, which includes dollar coins, gold coins, silver uncirculated coins and coin covers. These products are available for purchase directly to the customer at the US Mint website, at noon of their respective release dates (there is additional shipping and handling fee of $4.95 charged on every domestic order). The release also includes one of the most popular types of gold coins, the First Spouse Gold Coins, which will be released on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at noon ET.

Types of Gold Coins: Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins

This release includes three products, the proof and uncirculated Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coins and the Julia Grant Bronze Medal. Both the coins and the medal share the same design. One og the popular types of gold coins, the Julia Grant First Spouse gold coin has a right facing picture portrait of Julia Grant on the obverse. It also has the inscriptions JULIA GRANT, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 2011, 18th and 1869-1877. It is designed by the US Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by the US Mint sculptor-engraver Michael Gaudioso.

The reverse of the coin depicts a courtship scene between the young Julia Dent and the future US President Ulysses S. Grant. It depicts them horseback riding at White Haven, Julia Dent’s family plantation. This side also features the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, $10, ½ OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD. Designed by the US Mint Master Designer Richard Masters, this side is sculpted by the US Mint sculptor-engraver Charles L. Vickers.

While the maximum mintage of the Julia Grant gold coins is set at 15,000, the likely production is expected to be around 8,000 of both the options (considering the series’ sales patterns in the previous years). The actual mintage will also depend on customer demand. The price of these 24 karat, one-half ounce gold coins is not set until the Wednesday before its release, as the US Mint changes the gold coin prices based on the weekly average gold price. If the average is between $1,500 and $1549.99, the proof coins are priced at $929 and the uncirculated ones at $916.

The Julia Grant bronze medal also features the same design as the gold coin. However, at 15/16 inches, it is double the size of the gold coins. The opening price of the medal is also fixed at $7.95 each. Like that of the gold coin, the medal’s reverse depicts young Julia Dent and Ulysses S. Grant horse riding in White Haven. The obverse also features a picture portrait of the First Lady.

The Julia Grant First Spouse Gold Coin is the 19th in the series that commenced in 2007; it is also the second First Spouse Coin in 2011. The 2011 Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 coin was issued on May 19, 2011 and has been available since.

Here are the other products that the US Mint issues as of June 2011:

• Yosemite National Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin – Issue Date June 09, 2011 – Opening price $279.95
• Olympic National Park Quarter Bags and Rolls – Issue Date June 13, 2011 – Prices of Rolls: $39.95; Bag: $49.95
• Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin Cover – Issue Date June 29, 2011 – Opening price $19.95
• 2011 Proof American Silver Eagle Coin – Issue Date June 30, 2011
  To ensure equal availability of its products to the public, the US Mint accepts orders only after the official date and time of issue of each product. The products are sold on first come, first serve basis.