The US Mint issued a press release today, announcing that the third First Spouse gold coin in the series, Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty, will be available at 12:00pm EST on August 30th.  This is two weeks later than expected, since August 16th is the official launch of the third Presidential dollar coin.

Also interesting in this release is the limit of one coin per household for the first week.  Clearly, they are trying to avoid a run on the market on the launch date similar to what happened with the first two gold first spouse coins.

Here is some detail from the press release:

The United States Mint announced today the opening of sales for Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin on August 30 at 12:00 noon (ET).  Orders for both the ½-ounce proof and uncirculated versions of the 24-karat gold coin will be limited to one per option, per household for the first week of sales.  The United States Mint will reevaluate this limit after the first week, and either extend, adjust, or remove it.  Mintage of Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins is limited to 20,000 for each product option.

The image selected for the coin’s obverse appeared on the Draped Bust Half-Cent coin from 1800 to 1808.  The design was originally executed by United States Mint Chief Engraver Robert Scot and re-sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Sculptor Phebe Hemphill.  Inscriptions on the obverse include Jefferson’s years of service, the year “2007,” “In God We Trust” and “Liberty.”

Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coin is the third coin released in the multi-year program.  Designed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers, the coin’s reverse (tails side) depicts Thomas Jefferson’s monument, located on the grounds of his Monticello estate.  Inscribed on the coin is Jefferson’s epitaph, which he wrote near the end of his life:  “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the declaration of American independence, of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom and father of the University of Virginia.  Born April 2, 1743, O.S. Died July 4, 1826.”  Additional inscriptions on the reverse include “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” “$10,” “1/2 oz.” and “.9999 Fine Gold.”

There has yet to be any announced figures on the proportion of proof to uncirculated coins with the first two First Spouse coins.  It’s interesting to me that this press release specifies exactly 20,000 of each type of coin.  My guess is still that the “uncirculated” version will be the lower mintage and more valuable of the first two gold coins.