No First Spouse Coin for Martha Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was married, yet the obverse of the First Spouse gold coin meant to honor his wife depicts a figure of Liberty similar to that on the contemporary half and large cent. Why isn’t Martha Jefferson featured on this coin?
Martha Jefferson died 19 years prior to Thomas Jefferson having been elected president. Since Jefferson never remarried, there was no First Lady during his two terms in office. Under the terms of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, the coin of any president who served without a spouse will feature “A design emblematic of Liberty as it appeared on a United States coin issued during his time in office.”
How can I tell if my coin has been artificially re-toned?
Naturally occurring toning typically begins in the peripheral areas, then slowly works its way to the center. The intensity of this toning will be greater where the toning started. The exception to this pattern occurs when a coin was exposed to something in the environment such as laying on paper containing sulfur. Watch for hairline scratches and unusual color hues.
How can I stop a coin from toning?
Coins tone due to the environment to which they are exposed. Store your coins in a dry, climate-controlled area with limited light exposure. Consider a holder that is claimed to be air tight in which to encapsulate the coin.
I know pedigree or provenance is important to collectors of ancient and foreign coins. Just how important is this to U.S. coins?
Due to foreign countries increasingly attempting to seize coins and other artifacts as being part of their cultural heritage, it is becoming important that the place of discovery of a previously buried coin be known. Ownership of U.S. coins fortunately isn’t imperiled; however, there are collectors to whom a pedigree or provenance is important. Coins that were used as the example illustrated in a book on the subject or that can be traced to an important collection may command a premium.
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