Avantika Pai, Senior Intern for Black Girl Media
In 2021, the U.S. Mint introduced the new American Women Quarters Program, a four-year program that aims to celebrate the achievements made by women from the United States throughout history. Each year from 2022 to 2025, the U.S. Mint will release five new designs for quarters featuring female pioneers and groundbreakers.
All of the women included on the faces of the coins have made significant contributions to politics, humanities, civil rights, and science. The 2022 batch of designs highlighted writer and activist Maya Angelou, physicist and astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller, suffragist and leader Nina Otero-Warren, and Chinese-American Hollywood film star Anna May Wong.
This year’s supply will feature Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native-American woman licensed pilot; Edith Kanaka‘ole, an indigenous Hawaiian composer; Eleanor Roosevelt, former first lady and reformer; Jovita Idar, a Mexican-American journalist and activist; and Maria Tallchief, America’s first prima ballerina. Throughout the program, the historical figures spotlighted come from diverse backgrounds and careers.
Pictured- photo of Bessie Coleman next to the Bessie Coleman American women’s quarter- photo credit: Canva and the US Mint
While the women will be featured on the reverse side of the coin, the dominant side will maintain the portrait of George Washington in a slightly different style. Instead of the typical leftward-facing bust, the new composition will be facing towards the right, a design created and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser, one of the most prolific female sculptors of the early 20th century. Fraser initially submitted the design for the 1932 quarter for Washington’s 200th birthday but was ultimately not chosen.
Laura Gardin Fraser sculpted the design on the obverse side of the coin that portrays Washington facing the right, as opposed to the left, as shown on the standard quarter.- courtesy of the US Mint
The process that the U.S. Mint goes through to create these coins is very detailed and includes connecting with the Smithsonian Institution’s American Women’s History Initiative and the National Women’s History Museum and presenting to the Secretary of the Treasury.
After the designs are approved, the U.S. Mint will ship the coins for circulation. However, since these quarters are limited and commemorative, they may have a higher value to collectors and investors. Those interested in collecting or purchasing the coins can order them directly from the U.S. Mint or any authorized coin dealer.
The reverse side of the quarter will feature the historical female figure. This design illustrates Maya Angelou with her arms lifted, in front of a bird in flight and a rising sun. These details are symbolic of the imagery in Angelou’s poetry and of how Angelou lived her life.- courtesy of the U.S Mint
The program will continue through 2025, with the historical figures already chosen for 2024–Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Celia Cruz, and Zitkala-Ša.
“These inspiring coin designs tell the stories of five extraordinary women whose contributions are indelibly etched in American culture,” Former U.S. Mint Acting Director Alison L. Doone said in a statement. “Generations to come will look at coins bearing these designs and be reminded of what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and a desire to improve opportunities for all.”
About the author: Avantika Pia is a Clenager Alumni, and Senior Intern reporter for Black Girl Media from Solon High School.