Bullion

2008-W 1/2 oz Gold Louisa Adams BU (w/Box & COA)

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This half-ounce gold coin from 2008 celebrates Louisa Adams, a First Lady with a remarkably international background. Born in London, she was the first presidential spouse born outside of the United States, and she did not actually set foot in America until after she wed John Quincy Adams. The obverse of this ten-dollar piece features her portrait, struck in 0.9999 fine gold at the West Point Mint in New York. The reverse of the coin, designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Charles Vickers, illustrates a dramatic chapter in her life. While her husband was working in Paris, Louisa and her children resided in St. Petersburg. Following the conclusion of the War of 1812, she undertook a grueling forty-day winter journey by sleigh across Europe to reunite with her husband in France. This striking design captures the spirit of that arduous trek, making the coin a fascinating study of resilience and early nineteenth-century travel.