2016-W $10 Betty Ford (Regular Strike)

The 2016-W Betty Ford First Spouse Gold Coin

On March 25, 2016, the United States Mint released the 2016 Betty Ford First Spouse 1/2 oz Gold Coin. Struck in .9999 fine gold at the West Point Mint, the coin carries the “W” mintmark and was made available in both Proof and Uncirculated finishes.

As the 38th issue in the First Spouse Gold Coin Program, this coin served as the penultimate release in the series, which concluded later that year. These gold pieces were issued in concert with the Presidential $1 Dollar Coin Program, specifically honoring the spouse of the concurrent President—in this case, Gerald R. Ford.

The 2016-W Betty Ford First Spouse Gold Coin was released on March 25, 2016. While the Mint authorized a maximum mintage of 10,000 units, the actual production was significantly lower, with fewer than 4,300 total units sold (only 1,824 being the uncirculated version). This was a far cry from the 36,828 2007-W Martha Washington (#150886) coins or the 39,638 2007-W Jefferson's Liberty (#152119) coins sold in 2007. This sharp decline highlights three major factors that impacted the series' sales:

• Lack of Familiarity: Many collectors were unfamiliar with the lives of several first spouses. Beyond iconic figures like Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, or Jacqueline Kennedy, many subjects did not strongly resonate with the modern public.
• Collector Fatigue: At 42 designs (84 including both finishes), the series was exceptionally long. Interest plummeted early; by 2008, sales had already dropped by roughly 65% compared to the 2007 debut.
• The Gold Market: Rising gold prices forced the Mint to nearly double the issue price by the series’ end. By the time of the Betty Ford release, the entry price for a single 1/2 oz coin had risen from approximately $410 to nearly $800, pricing out many casual collectors.

Ironically, unpopularity at the time of a product's release is often a necessary ingredient for future scarcity—a key driver of collector interest. Today, the Betty Ford coin is considered a "key date" of the series due to these low mintage figures. Furthermore, given the historic rise in the price of gold, the cost of completing a full set has more than doubled in recent years, rewarding the few dedicated collectors who saw the series through to its conclusion.

Design and Advocacy

The coin’s design serves as a narrative of Mrs. Ford’s role as a feminist icon. The obverse, designed by Barbara Fox and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso features a portrait of the First Lady. The reverse, designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by Renata Gordon depicts a young woman ascending a staircase, representing Mrs. Ford's advocacy for women's rights and women's health.

Betty Ford’s Life and Legacy

Betty Ford’s greatest legacy stems from her willingness to turn private struggles into public action:

• Equal Rights for Women: Ford was outspoken in her support for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and advocated for more women in leadership positions and in the workforce. She famously urged her husband to appoint more women to senrior government roles.
• Breast Cancer Advocacy: Just weeks after entering the White House, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following a mastectomy, she chose to be completely open about her diagnosis. Her candor broke long-standing stigmas and dramatically increased public awareness, leading to a surge in women seeking life-saving screenings.
• Addiction and Recovery: After leaving the White House, she faced a painful struggle with alcohol and prescription medication addiction. In 1978, following a family intervention, she entered treatment at Long Beach Naval Hospital. By speaking openly about her journey, she helped humanize the struggle of addiction for millions.

Inspired by her recovery, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center in 1982 in Rancho Mirage, California. The non-profit facility became a global leader in chemical dependency treatment, particularly for women. She served as Chair Emeritus and later expanded her advocacy to include the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Final Honors

For her lifetime of service, Mrs. Ford was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1991) and the Congressional Gold Medal (1999). Following the death of President Ford in 2006, Betty Ford passed away of natural causes on July 8, 2011, at the age of 93. She is interred beside her husband at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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