Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coin

On December 3, 2009, the United States Mint released the last of the 2009 First Spouse Gold Coins. The coin was of Margaret Taylor, the wife of 12th President Zachary Taylor. She remained the First Lady from 1849 to 1850. The coin for First Lady Margaret Taylor has a portrait of her on the obverse side, designed by Phebe Hemphill and sculpted by Charles Vickers. It also has the inscriptions of “Margaret Taylor", "Liberty" "In God We Trust,” “LIBERTY,” “2009" and “12th 1849-1850" (the years she served as the spouse of a president). It also has the "W" mint mark to indicate being struck at West Point Mint in New York.

The opposing side, designed by Mary Beth Zeitz and sculpted by Jim Licaretz, depicts Margaret Taylor nursing wounded soliders during the Seminole War. It has also the inscriptions of "United States of America", "E Pluribus Unum", "$10", and "1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold." Like all the coins to be released, the Margaret Taylor coin contains one-half ounce of 24 karat gold. It will be available until the maximum mintage of 400,000 is reached or until the year if over, which ever one comes first.

It is said that Margaret Taylor had a happy marriage, despite spending almost 40 years with her husband Zachary Taylor from post to post as he was a career Army officer. She was always setting up the household even if it was in a tent. She was known for nursing wounded soldiers and providing comfort to soldier's wives when they were away on assignment.

It was no secret that Margaret Taylor was not pleased with her husband's nomination. She had prayed for his defeat. By the time that Zachary Taylor was elected into the Presidency, Margaret Taylor's health was poor. The combination of moving from fort to fort and several births (4 children survived), had made its effect. She spent most of her time on the second floor of the White House, leaving the hosting duties to her daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Taylor.

When her husband died in 1850, only 16 months into his presidency, Margaret Taylor she did not take it well. Her health deteriorated rapidly and she died in 1852.

The First Spouse coins came into law on December 22, 2005, signed by President George W. Bush under the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. The first of the coins were released in 2007 and are scheduled to be minted into 2016. The coins are to be made of .9999 pure gold to be made available in proof and uncirculated versions. The First Spouse Coins are to be released as counterparts for the circulating Presidential $1 Coins. They are also to be made of bronze.

Each of the designs are to be a portrait of the First Lady with the reverse showing a scene that was consistent with her "life and work." The previous coins that have been released this year have been Anna Harrison, Letitia Tyler, Julia Tyler and Sarah Polk, which still remain available for purchase.

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