Official Press Release
February 6, 2016

United States Mint Unveils Ronald and Nancy Reagan Coin Designs

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint unveiled designs for the Ronald Reagan Presidential $1 Coin and the Nancy Reagan First Spouse Gold Coin today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library annual birthday celebration for the former president. 

"The release of the Ronald Reagan Presidential $1 Coin and the Nancy Reagan First Spouse Coin will mark the end of the coin programs that have honored the contributions of our nation's presidents and the indelible work of our nation's first ladies," said Richard A. Peterson, United States Mint Deputy Director of Manufacturing and Quality.

Additional participants at the event in Simi Valley, Calif., included Marlin Fitzwater, former press secretary to President Ronald Reagan; John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation; and Brig. Gen. Edward Banta, commanding general of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential $1 Coin obverse (heads side) features a forward facing portrait of the former president with the inscriptions "RONALD REAGAN," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "40th PRESIDENT," and "1981-1989."  The coin's reverse (tails side) features a rendition of the Statue of Liberty with the inscriptions "$1" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."  The year of minting or issuance, the mint mark, and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" are incused on the coin's edge. 

The obverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Richard Masters and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.  The reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.

The obverse of the Nancy Reagan First Spouse Gold Coin features a portrait of the former first lady with the inscriptions "NANCY REAGAN," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "40th," and "1981-1989."  The coin's reverse features Mrs. Reagan with her arms around two children during her "Just Say No" campaign with the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, " "E PLURIBUS UNUM, " "$10, " "1/2 OZ., " and ".9999 FINE GOLD."

The obverse was designed by AIP artist Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.  The reverse was designed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. 

Several products featuring the Ronald and Nancy Reagan coins will be available for purchase via the United States Mint online catalog at https://catalog.usmint.gov/.  Release dates for products featuring these coins will be published on the United States Mint product schedule at https://catalog.usmint.gov/product-schedule/.  

In accordance with Public Law 109-145, the United States Mint has been minting and issuing $1 coins with obverse images bearing likenesses of each of the United States Presidents in the order that each served, beginning with Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison in 2007.  The United States Mint has issued four Presidential $1 Coins per year, each with a reverse design featuring a likeness of the Statue of Liberty.  Additionally, the United States Mint has been minting and issuing uncirculated and proof 24-karat gold coins that are emblematic of the spouse of each President, with limited exceptions as described in the legislation, under the same release schedule as the Presidents, beginning in 2007.  These 24-karat coins generally have featured an obverse image of the First Spouse and reverse images emblematic of the particular First Spouse's life and work.  Bronze medals that bear the likeness of the bullion coins were issued for each of the first spouse 24-karat coins.  The release of the coins honoring Ronald and Nancy Reagan will mark the end of both programs.

About the United States Mint
The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792 and became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873.  It is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce.  The United States Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver and gold bullion coins.  The United States Mint's numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.