We have been following the proposal for the late President George H.W. Bush and late first lady Barbara Bush to be placed on a Presidential $1 Coin and a $10 Gold Coin. The last update we gave featured the passing of legislation in mid-December of 2019. There have now been designs brought forth to the Commission of Fine Arts for review.
On February 20th, a 2020 Presidential dollar and First Spouse gold $10 coin honoring the late couple have been recommended by the CFA to use the following designs above for the coins. The portraits honoring them are favored by the Bush family themselves.
The obverse of the Bush $1 coin depicts the portrait of the late President with the inscriptions lining the bottom arc of the coin reading “IN GOD WE TRUST”, “41st PRESIDENT”, and “1989-1993” for the years he served his term in office. Much like the past Presidential dollar coins first introduced in 2007, the reverse will feature the Statue of Liberty as designed by retired U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Donald Everhart III.
The $10 gold coin recommended features the portrait of Barbara Bush on the obverse with the same inscriptions as her late husband. The reverse recommended will feature a stack of books with an open book atop them in the middle of the coin. “HISTORY” and “SCIENCE” are featured on the spines of the two books below as they are to symbolize and highlight “their importance in the steps of learning, freedom, and independence.” The inscription “FAMILY LITERACY” is depicted over a sun and its rays just above the open book design with the denomination and fineness of the gold etched around the outside border of the coin.
The designs recommended by the CFA are to be forwarded on to the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for the final approval. The CCAC, or Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, is also to review the same designs proposed this month. The CFA was given 11 design proposals overall for the Bush $1 Coin while the $10 Gold First Spouse Coin had 11 obverse and 12 reverse designs to be gone over.
The President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act was signed into law, or Public Law 116-112, by President Trump in late January of 2020. It is still unknown at this point in time how many will be issued and what finishes they will have.