Quarter coins will get a new look from 2022, thanks to the American Women Quarters program of the US Mint.
The plays will feature trailblazers from various eras in American history, including poet and writer Maya Angelou, actress Anna May Wong, politician Nina Otero-Warren, astronaut and physicist Sally Ride, and the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller.
US Mint announced the designs on October 6, 2021.
🥁 We are pleased to announce the 2022 coin designs for the American Women Quarters ™ program, honoring the achievements of Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong: https: // t. co / D54knKPbvQ #HerQuarter @smithsonian @womenshistory pic.twitter.com/3p7XGM9Ok4
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
The American Women Quarters Program is a four-year program, and until 2025, the program will introduce women to the tails of every room. The initiative was authorized by Congress earlier this year.
Each piece will have a unique design. Angelou’s quarter represents her with her arms raised against the wings of a bird in flight and rays of light. The description, according to US Mint, reads: “The reverse (tail) represents Maya Angelou with her arms raised. Behind her, a bird in flight and a rising sun, images inspired by her poetry and symbolic of her way of life.
All parts drawings and descriptions can be seen here and below:
Maya Angelou was an inspiring writer / performer / social activist. The inverted design of #HerQuarter represents Angelou with his arms raised. Behind her, a bird in flight and a rising sun, images inspired by her poetry and symbolic of her way of life. https://t.co/Enr1I5EbXr pic.twitter.com/XFZHlmAVGh
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
Dr Sally Ride was a physicist and astronaut. The inverted design of #HerQuarter depicts Ride next to a space shuttle window. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is positioned above Earth next to America, indicating that Dr. Ride was the first American woman in space. https://t.co/WGvTli5fAg # WSW2021 pic.twitter.com/kRdA6fbLmp
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
Wilma Mankiller was the 1st ♀️ elected leader of the @CherokeeNation. The inverted design of #HerQuarter portrays Mankiller with a determined look to the future. The wind is at his back; it is wrapped in a traditional shawl. To its left is the 7-pointed star. https://t.co/pdD0uxE3dq pic.twitter.com/WzfaheGON0
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
Nina Otero-Warren was a mvmt / 1st suffrage leader ♀️ superintendent of Santa Fe public schools. The reverse conception of #HerQuarter features a picture of her on the left flanked by 3 individual yucca flowers – the NM state flower. https://t.co/MHcR3pPu4C #HispanicHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/32OjVnaLPD
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
Anna May Wong was the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood. The inverted design of #HerQuarter features a close-up image of Wong with his head resting on his hand, surrounded by the bright lights of a branded sign. https://t.co/hZk5aZiyVA @smithsonian @womenshistory pic.twitter.com/IgWAPZEXmR
– United States currency (@usmint) October 6, 2021
None of the women chosen to appear on the coins are still alive, because, according to the US Mint: “Public law requires that no living person appear on the designs of the coins.”
Sources:
American Women’s Quarters Program | American currency. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-women-quarters. Accessed October 12, 2021.
Maya Angelou district | American Women’s Quarters | American currency. https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/american-women-quarters/maya-angelou. Accessed October 12, 2021.
Treisman, Rachel. “Maya Angelou, Sally Ride and other pioneer women will be featured on American plays.” NPR, Oct. 7, 2021. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1044023494/maya-angelou-sally-ride-anna-may-wong-historical-women-quarters-us-mint.
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