First Ladies Get Useless, Non-Circulating Coins

The US Mint, having already ensured that someday we will handle a dollar coin emblazoned with the face of Gerald Ford, is now giving in to whiny bleeding-heart types by putting all the Presidents’ wives on some coins. Half-ounce gold coins of no denomination that will not circulate. Fun fact:

For example, Thomas Jefferson was widowed when he took office, so the coin that would have portrayed his wife will instead show the flowing-haired effigy of Lady Liberty that was on the half-cent coin at the time.

We guess a Sally Hemings coin would’ve been impolitic. But is it too much to ask that James Buchanan’s coin feature former Vice President William “Miss Nancy” King?

Gold Coins Will Feature Presidential Spouses [NYT]