(2007) First Spouse Bronze Medal - Jefferson's Liberty

Coin Details

Description

Because Thomas Jefferson's wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson died in 1782, nearly two decades before he assumed the presidency, the First Spouse program substituted an allegorical figure of Liberty for the traditional spousal portrait. The obverse presents a representation of Liberty designed by Robert Scot and adapted by Phebe Hemphill, drawing on the imagery used for circulating coinage during Jefferson's era in the early nineteenth century. The figure echoes the Draped Bust Liberty that appeared on American coins during Jefferson's presidency, connecting the allegorical concept to the actual numismatic art of his administration. The reverse design, created by Charles Vickers, references Jefferson's authorship of the Declaration of Independence and his broader contributions to the ideals of liberty and self-governance. This approach of using a personification of Liberty for presidents who lacked a living spouse during their terms would recur throughout the series for Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan. The bronze medal measures 1-5/16 inches and carries the same design elements as the gold version, providing collectors with an accessible entry point into the First Spouse series while also documenting the numismatic convention of Liberty allegory that dates back to the earliest American coinage.

Rarity Notes

Produced at the Philadelphia Mint with open mintage during the issue period. The Liberty allegory medals tend to generate slightly less collector demand than those featuring actual first ladies, making them somewhat easier to acquire on the secondary market.

Cross References

PCGS #393214; companion to First Spouse Gold $10 (PCGS #393213)