Richard and Pat Nixon get their own coins

The U.S. Mint unveiled its new $1 gold coin featuring Richard Nixon at a ceremony Wednesday at the former president’s library in Yorba Linda.

The celebration, which was held on what would have been Pat Nixon’s 104th birthday, also included the release of a companion coin honoring the former first lady.

Calling her a “first lady of the first order,” Ed Nixon, the former president’s 85-year-old younger brother, told the gathering, “Let’s never forget, she was one great lady.”

The coins are part of the U.S. Mint’s presidential series, which emerged from the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. Since 2007, new dollar coins have been released each year, honoring presidents in the order that they served. In the first year of the program, presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison received coins, and this year, it will be presidents Nixon, Reagan and Ford.

The Presidential $1 Coin Act also includes the First Spouse Program, which issues $10 gold coins featuring the presidents’ wives.

“The First Spouse coins are made of 24-carat gold,” said Jean Gentry, U.S. Mint chief counsel, “clearly reflective of the value these women played as they stand alongside their husbands.”

The new $1 gold coin features Richard Nixon’s profile on the front and the standard rendition of the Statue of Liberty on the back. The First Spouse coin features Pat Nixon’s face on the front and a globe surrounded by figures holding hands on the back, an image said to symbolize her volunteer work.

The U.S. Mint is selling Pat Nixon’s gold coin for $815, a price based on its weight in gold.

The Richard Nixon coin is $2.95 at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, which is also selling a non-circulating bronze replica of the First Spouse coin in a set with the Richard Nixon coin for $19.95.

The library is at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda.