High mintage projected for Jackie First Spouse

Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy is considered to be one of the most popular first spouses due to her involvement in many philanthropic, historical and diplomatic causes. But how well will that popularity translate into a coin?

The 2015-W Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse $10 half-ounce proof and uncirculated gold coin, on sale June 25, has collectors and dealers hoping she will spark interest in the fledging series.

Even the United States Mint thinks the Kennedy First Spouse coin will sell well as it has set a mintage limit of 30,000 coins total. The previous releases for 2015 have had a mintage limit of 10,000 coins. The Mint has not placed a household order limit on the Kennedy First Spouse coin.

Matt Crane of L&C Coins, Los Alamitos, Calif., said they plan to stock Kennedy First Spouse coins.

“We’ll buy them to fulfill our initial demand,” he said. “Then we’ll look at how many we’ll need after that. We plan on selling MS-70 and PF-70 ones graded by PCGS.”

He said the First Spouse series has loyal followers and he hopes the Kennedy release will bring in more.

“The release of the Kennedy First Spouse coin may inspire other collectors to collect older dates in the series,” he said. “I think they did a good job with the series. All of the depictions of the first spouses have been well done. It will be interesting to see what the Kennedy First Spouse gold coin does.”

For most of its run, the First Spouse coin series has been a quiet one. The series began with the release of the Martha Washington First Spouse coin on June 19, 2007, which saw 17,661 uncirculated and 19,167 proof coins sold. It was released alongside the Abigail Adams issue, where collectors bought 17,142 uncirculated and 17,149 proof coins. After 2007 though, sales for the series plummeted.

By 2011, the best selling coin for the year, the Julia Grant First Spouse, had just 2,892 uncirculated and 3,943 proof coins ordered. Reports also suggest a number of the earlier issues were melted down at this time due to high gold prices.

Even the release of the Eleanor Roosevelt First Spouse coin in 2014 couldn’t change collector’s opinions. Sales of the coin were slow and, by sellout, only 1,886 uncirculated and 2,377 proof coins were purchased.

The secondary market for First Spouse coins on eBay is quiet as well. Buyers pay more interest towards graded MS-70 and PF-70 coins. However, prices are difficult to figure out due to few sales and possible speculation on low mintages.

If you’re interested in collecting the First Spouse series, watch what you’re paying for some of the coins. The low mintages may be enticing, but limited collector interest will keep the market down. If the Kennedy First Spouse coin brings in more collectors though, sales of past issues may increase.

The 2015-W Kennedy First Spouse gold coins can be purchased from the Mint here: http://catalog.usmint.gov/on/demandware.store/Sites-USM-Site/default/Search-Show?q=jacqueline%20kennedy