Maya Angelou and Sally Ride Will Both Be On US Quarters
Much like America itself, our country's currency has long been dominated by white men. Only a handful of women—among them Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea and Martha Washington—have ever had their likenesses on U.S. currency, but that's beginning to change, thanks in part to the U.S. Mint's new American Women Quarters Program. Beginning in January 2022, a total of 20 new quarter coin designs will be released, each of them featuring a different iconic woman.
The US Mint announced last month that Maya Angelou, the trailblazing poet, author and civil rights activist, and Sally K. Ride, the first American woman in space, will be the first two women whose likenesses will appear on the tails side of a quarter.
In its press release, the Mint confirmed that George Washington will continue to be on the heads side of the coin, but the image will be "designed in a manner to distinguish it from the current image." Although no further names were listed, the release also offered more details about the criteria for selection. All of the coin designs will be "emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of a prominent American woman... contributions may come from a wide spectrum of fields including, but not limited to, suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts. The women honored will come from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds." The release also noted that per law, no living person can be featured in the coin designs, so all of the women must be deceased.
The project was brought to fruition by Senator Deb Fischer and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, with Rep. Barbara Lee of California taking it to the House. It will see a total of 20 women represented, with their respective coin designs released through 2025. In an April press release, the U.S. Mint said: "Contributions may come from a wide spectrum of fields including, but not limited to, suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts. The women honored will come from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds."
The public also has a chance to weigh in on who should be included on the rest of the coins, by submitting suggestions via this online form. The final selections will be made by the U.S. Mint and several consulting organizations including The National Women's History Museum, the Smithsonian Institution American Women's History Initiative, and the Bipartisan Women's Caucus. The rest of the 20 new coin designs will be released through 2025.
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