2015-W Jacqueline Kennedy $10 Gold Coin Uncirculated

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

On June 25, 2015, the United States Mint issued the 2015 Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse 1/2 oz $10 Gold Coin. The coin is struck in .9999 fine (99.99% pure) gold and has a maximum authorized mintage of 30,000 across all ordering options. The coin was struck at the West Point Mint and carries the “W” mintmark. It comes in two finishes: Proof and Uncirculated.

The Jacqueline Kennedy $10 Gold Coin is the third gold coin issued in 2015 from the First Spouse Gold Coin Program. First Spouse gold coins are issued in concert with the base-metal golden Presidential Dollar series. The Jacqueline Kennedy $10 Gold Coin is the 35th gold coin issued in the series.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS70 (1,599, 10/2024). NGC MS70 (829, 10/2024). CAC MS70 (0:2 stickered:graded, 10/2024).

• PCGS MS70 #32617327: GreatCollections, October 20, 2024, Lot 1520332 – View. First Strike label.
• NGC MS70 #4271312-055: GreatCollections, October 20, 2024, Lot 1647821 – View. First Spouse Series label, Early Releases on insert.
• NGC MS70 #4271354-223: Heritage Auctions, July 10, 2023, Lot 51077 – $1,320. First Day of Issue label.
• PCGS MS70 #38679785: GreatCollections, March 26, 2023, Lot 1089321 – View.
• PCGS MS70 #38679786: GreatCollections, March 19, 2023, Lot 1089320 – View.
• PCGS MS70 #38679787: GreatCollections, March 12, 2023, Lot 1089319 – View.
• PCGS MS70 #33081240: GreatCollections, February 19, 2023, Lot 1313822 – View.
• PCGS MS70 #46441107: GreatCollections, Decemebr 18, 2022, Lot 1275550 – View.
• PCGS MS70 #32605707: Heritage Auctions, January 20, 2021, Lot 25784 – $1,050. John F. Kennedy signature label. First Strike, Camelot on insert.
• PCGS MS70 #32866769: Heritage Auctions, November 11, 2020, Lot 23513 – $990.
• NGC MS70 #4271312-029: Heritage, September 16, 2020, Lot 25704 – $964.80. First Spouse Series label, Early Releases on insert.
• PCGS MS70 #32866768: Heritage, August 26, 2020, Lot 27848 – $990.
• NGC MS70 #5865479-001: GreatCollections, August 23, 2020, Lot 873979 – View.
• NGC MS70 #4271306-244: Heritage, April 3, 2019, Lot 21956 – $720. First Day of Issue label.

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Design

Obverse:

The obverse is one of the last U.S. coin designs authored by Susan Gamble (1957-2015). Gamble was a prolific designer of U.S. coins. The Jacqueline Kennedy coin is her eighth to be featured in the First Spouse Gold Coin program. Gamble presents the former First Lady with an elegant forward-looking bust. Mrs. Kennedy’s signature hairstyle is depicted. Around Mrs. Kennedy’s neck is her famous three-tiered faux pearl necklace; that necklace was auctioned in 1996 by Sotheby’s and brought a remarkable sum of $211,500. The winning bidder? The Franklin Mint.

Medallic Artist Phoebe Hemphill adapted Gamble’s design for coining.

The coin’s inscriptions include JACQUELINE KENNEDY, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the date 2015, and 35th 1961-1963. Susan Gamble’s initials SG appear off of Mrs. Kennedy’s shoulder to the left. Phoebe Hemphill’s initials PH appear to the right. Underneath the date appears the W mintmark of West Point.

Reverse:

The coin’s reverse was designed by Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Jim Licaretz. Central to the design is flower from the saucer magnolia. Mrs. Kennedy chose to plant the colorful tree along the East Garden of the White House. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy requested that a garden of saucer magnolias, crabapples, and cherry trees ornament the Kennedy Memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery. Surrounding the flower is a circular map of the Earth. The petals of the saucer magnolia are said to touch sites of Mrs. Kennedy’s most significant foreign diplomatic visits.

Inscriptions include the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the denomination, weight, and fineness $10, 1/2 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD. Benjamin Sowards’ SG initials appear off of the western coast of Colombia. Jim Licaretz’s JL initials appear on coin’s right side, in the Gulf of Guinea.

Edge:

The edge of the 2015-W Jacqueline Kennedy First Spouse gold coin is reeded.

Designers

Susan Gamble’s career as a coin designer began in 2004. Before her death in January 2015, Gamble had authored more than two-dozen coin and medal designs for the U.S. Mint (View Designer’s Profile).

Designer Phebe Hemphill joined the Mint in 2006, and since that time has become one of the nation’s most prolific coin designers (View Designer’s Profile).

AIP artist Benjamin Sowards studied at Brigham Young University and Laguna College of Art and Design. He is known for his portraiture and fully painted book illustrations – including the Leven Thumps series of young adult fantasy novels. He has taught as Director of the Illustration Program at Southern Utah University since 2001.

Engraver Jim Licaretz is a former president of the American Medallic Sculpture Association and has seen a number of his designs appear on U.S. coins and medals (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

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