Contents:
In the Spouse Coins series, the coin dedicated to Barbara Bush was the last. What makes this bit special? We will check this coin’s mintage, design, and values.
Who Was First Lady Barbara Bush?
The Spouse series commonly featured the First Lady of the United States. For example, the Martha Washington coin celebrated the union between the President and his wife, Martha. The hero of the coin we’re analyzing had a similar history.
Barbara Pierce Bush was the wife of the 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady from 1989 to 1993.
What kind of person was Barbara? Many described her as full of wit and devotion to family. She was beloved by her nation, and on top of typical first lady duties, also worked heavily in a campaign spreading literature.
Thus, in 1989, she founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and used her considerable status to raise funds, awareness, and policy attention for both adult and childhood literacy programs.
The Spouse series is fascinating, as it shows how First Ladies and women became more prominent in politics. The Abigail Adams coin, one of the earliest in the series, told the story of a woman who barely participated in her husband's life or politics. Barbara’s coin was the last in the series, and her influence was much stronger.
"Each features a portrait of the former first lady and is struck from one‑half ounce of 24‑karat gold."
— Darrin Lee Unser
Coin News Website
2020 Barbara Bush First Spouse Gold Coin: Key Features & Mintage
Barbara Bush first spouse gold coin 2020 was not much different from the same coins from the series. The differences come from its design and mintage:
Feature | Details |
Country | United States |
Years of Minting | 2020 |
Type | Set piece |
Shape | Round |
Metal Content | 24-karat gold, 0.5 oz, .9999 fine |
Diameter | 27 mm |
Weight | 15.554 grams (0.5 troy oz) |
Mintage | 4,912 bits (West Point Mint) |
Approx. Values | $2,000+ |
Design Highlights of the Barbara Bush Gold Coin
By far, the best part about any commemorative coin is its design, and First Spouse bits all had unique designs, reflecting their heroines.
Obverse: A portrait of Barbara Bush. She is depicted at a respectful age, wearing her trademark pearls. The obverse has common for many U.S. bits' inscriptions “LIBERTY”, and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. Barbara’s portrait was designed by Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
Reverse: Barbara Bush at work. She is reading a book, reflecting her literacy campaign. The sun is rising in the background. The whole mood is hopeful, just as the woman it portrays. This design was conceived by Barbara Fox and sculpted by John P. McGraw.
Every U.S. citizen has heard about Barbara Bush first lady, at least once in their lives. She was the spouse of a president, yes, but so much more. People interested in women's empowerment, numismatics, and history would love to have Barbara Bush coin in their collection.
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