Controversial lady

[Figleaf]

The counterpart to the circulating dollars series with dead US presidents is a series of gold pseudo-coins with dead first ladies. While they may not excite numismatists, they have raised the ire of Milton Stern, the author of Harriet Lane, America?s First Lady, because his heroine is not included in the series. He argues that Harriet Lane, niece of Bachelor President James Buchanan was the first to be given the title, ?First Lady'. Harriet Lane was James Buchanan?s official hostess. Other women in the same situation are also excluded from the series. Apparently, The US Mint believes first ladies have to be married. That excludes Sally Hemings, I suppose 

Peter

[ghipszky]

Figleaf,
When are these supposed to be coming out?
Ghipszky

[Figleaf]

According to CNN, the first one, for Dolly Madison, should have been issued along with the George Washington dollar. They are half ounce 24 karat coin-like gold bars with a nominal value of $10 and a gold value of over $300. Melt value will be lower owing to profit margins of middlemen and melting cost.

Peter

[Ham]

Apparently, The US Mint believes first ladies have to be married.

Why on earth blame the blameless?

Neither the Mint nor its parent Treasury Department had any say-so on who will be depicted in the series.  Congress, with the Living President's concurrence, specified exactly who would appear on every "coin" in the series.

Let's give those 536 folks the blame they deserve!

[muntenman]

Just a Dutchie passing through... who is Sally hemmings?

[Figleaf]

Anything underlined in this site is clickable. Click on her name in the first contribution and you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about her and her offspring. Talk about controversial...

@Ham: here's a coin collector's idea: I'll trade one of our parliamentarians for one of your congressmen. If you take five extreme rightist or leftist, I'll throw in a minister. 

Peter

[muntenman]

Fortunately today I rented a dvd with the story of Sally Hemmings in al local video-rentalshop; Sam Neill is playing the president... gives me something to do...

[bruce61813]

@Ham: here's a coin collector's idea: I'll trade one of our parliamentarians for one of your congressmen. If you take five extreme rightist or leftist, I'll throw in a minister. 
Peter

Peter, I think you would loose, but the relative IQ of both countries might rise.
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office- Aesop

Brcue

[Figleaf]

That quote made my day. Thanks.

Peter

[King-of-counters]

Fortunately today I rented a dvd with the story of Sally Hemmings in al local video-rentalshop; Sam Neill is playing the president... gives me something to do...

I studied Jefferson in highschool, back in the Netherlands and years later had more then one visit to Monticello his mountain top plantion house,(near Charlotte, Va) where he, Sally,  many of his slaves and offspring of there union lived. It was quite an experience and I recommend it to anybody. He has to be up there as one of the most interesting and complex presidents that the Americans had. You'll need 2 hr. at least to see the house and grounds and in the summer the lines get very long, get there urly!!!
Greetings, Pieter...

[ghipszky]

So if you go to www.usmint.gov, can you find these coins and what do you look under??
Ghipszky

[Figleaf]

They are here, ghipszky. From your link, click "coins and medals" and then "first spouse gold coins". How odd that the Mint thinks they are coins. Or would the shameless marketeers have thought of that (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

Peter

[chrisild]

Design wise, I am happy about every single president that is, every president who did not have a spouse: The various depictions of Liberty look far more attractive in my opinion.

As for why these pieces are coins, well, apparently many prefer gold and silver "thingies" that have a face value. Even bullion  pieces like the Austrian Philharmonics do not just say X oz.  Ah well, I don't collect gold coins and am not a gold bug either.

Christian

[Figleaf]

Quite right there, Christian. Gold is at a historic high. It would be very dangerous to be a buyer now. If I had any I could sell, I'd sell now. All the more, because gold is an unproductive metal. Its only use is luxury goods plus a trickle that goes into computer parts. Americans have a long history of distrust of their own government which goes from the entertaining (X-files, plot theories), via the expensive (flight into gold and silver) to the maniacal (militias).

Peter

[a3v1]

Gold is at a historic high.

@ Peter,
The all-time historic high of gold was in January 1980. Its (then) price was $ 870 per oz. The (then) dollar equalled over ? 1.65.
Nowadays the dollar is a mere ? 0.68. So the gold price should surpass $ 2000 per oz. before it reaches an new all-time historic high.
The highest recent gold price was $ 917 per oz. last week. Today it's back to $ 888 per oz.
Regards,
a3v1