First Spouse Gold Coins - Higher Prices Impacting Sales

The U.S. Mint recently released pricing for the next coin in the First Spouse Gold Coin Series. The Elizabeth Monroe coins will be priced at $619.95 and $599.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively. This represents a large price increase in pricing over the previous coin that will likely impact sales.

The First Spouse Gold Series was met with strong popularity when the initial two coins were released. The coins honoring Martha Washington and Abigail Adams sold out at the U.S. Mint within less than one day. The following coin honoring Thomas Jefferson's Liberty similarly sold out within less than one day, even though the Mint had set strict ordering limits of one coin per product per customer. Each of these coins had been offered at a price of $429.95 and $410.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively.

The fourth coin honoring Dolley Madison was met with a more tepid response. Due to the increasing price of gold, the prices were raised to $529.95 and $509.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively. This higher offering price served to temper demand for the coins. Even after several months of sales, the coins have not reached sell out levels.

Since each coin contains one half ounce of gold, the Mint must increase offering prices on the coins as the price of gold rises. Every time this happens, more and more collectors of the series are effectively priced out of the market. Perhaps more than any other recent series, the popularity is linked to the rise and fall of gold.

Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. For further information and resources on the First Spouse Coin Program visit First Spouse Gold. For up to date news on news on First Spouse Coins, visit First Spouse Gold Blog.