First Spouse Bronze Medals
Since the start of the First Spouse Gold Coin series, the US Mint has been issuing Bronze Medal duplicates for each gold coin. Each medal is a duplicate of the corresponding First Spouse Gold Coin, but with the inscriptions referencing to the denomination, gold content, and mintage date removed. The medals have been produced by the Philadelphia Mint, although no mint mark is present. They measure 1- 5/16 inches in diameter. The bronze composition is a mixture of copper and zinc.
These bronze medals were authorized under the same enabling legislation Public Law 109-145. A section of the law provides that the Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell bronze medals that bear the likeness of the gold coins. Under the law, the price, size, weight, and inscriptions are left to the discretion of the Secretary.
The bronze medals have been minted to demand without a maximum mintage. They have been offered individually for $3.50 or as annual Medal Sets containing all of the medals for the year. Presidential Dollar Coin and First Spouse Medal Sets have also been offered for $7.95 or $8.95, which contain one uncircualted Presidential Dollar and the corresponding First Spouse Medal.
This medal series has already produced an interesting error for collectors. Some of the 2007 First Spouse Bronze Four Coin Sets contained an Abigail Adams medal with the reverse of the Louisa Adams medal. When the obverse of a coin is matched with an improper reverse, this is known as a mule error. Examples of the Adams/Adams mule error medal have sold for more than $600 online.
