(2010) First Spouse Bronze Medal - Buchanan's Liberty

Coin Details

Auction Record

$157 MS69 10-31-2011 eBay

Description

James Buchanan remains the only president who never married, making the Liberty allegory design a natural choice for his entry in the First Spouse series. The obverse features a depiction of Liberty designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, rendered in a style reflecting the late 1850s aesthetic when Buchanan served as the fifteenth president from 1857 to 1861. The Liberty figure draws on the artistic traditions of the period, when the Seated Liberty design dominated American silver coinage and the Indian Princess design appeared on gold pieces. Buchanan's niece Harriet Lane served as White House hostess during his administration and was widely admired for her social grace and fashion sense. She was so popular that the revenue cutter USRC Harriet Lane was named in her honor, and she later became a significant art collector and philanthropist. The reverse design references themes of liberty during one of the most turbulent periods in American history, as the Buchanan presidency saw the nation slide toward civil war. Struck in bronze at 1-5/16 inches, this medal is the fourth of the Liberty allegory issues in the series, following the Jefferson, Jackson, and Van Buren versions.

Rarity Notes

Struck at the Philadelphia Mint with open mintage during 2010. The Liberty allegory medals are generally among the more affordable issues in the First Spouse Bronze Medal series.

Cross References

PCGS #418875; companion to First Spouse Gold $10