Martin Van Buren's wife Hannah died at the age of 35, probably of tuberculosis, 18 years before he became President. Because she never served as First Lady, Van Buren's First Spouse coin depicts an image taken from a coin which circulated during his tenure in office - the Seated Liberty Dime. The coin was designed by U.S. Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht.
The most frequently asked question about this coin design is, "What is Miss Liberty holding on the top of that stick?" The "stick" is actually a staff, denoting authority, and the "thing on top" is a traditional Liberty Cap! Liberty is seen seated on a rock, a device that has been appearing on coins since ancient Roman and Greek times when City and State Goddesses were often depicted sitting on rocks, often with rivers flowing at their feet.
The most frequently asked question about this coin design is, "What is Miss Liberty holding on the top of that stick?" The "stick" is actually a staff, denoting authority, and the "thing on top" is a traditional Liberty Cap! Liberty is seen seated on a rock, a device that has been appearing on coins since ancient Roman and Greek times when City and State Goddesses were often depicted sitting on rocks, often with rivers flowing at their feet.