The U.S. Mint is concluding its four-year American Women Quarters Program, introducing coins this year that celebrate historic figures including a tennis champion, a pioneering astronomer, and the founder of the Girl Scouts. This program has been instrumental in diversifying the faces on U.S. currency by spotlighting influential women throughout history.
Overview of the American Women Quarters Program
Launched in 2022, the American Women Quarters Program was designed to bring greater gender balance to U.S. coins, which have traditionally featured prominent male figures. The initiative has issued five new quarters annually, honoring women like Eleanor Roosevelt and Sally Ride while weaving their contributions into the fabric of American history. As the program concludes in its fourth year, these coins will remain a lasting tribute to their legacies.
According to U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson, this initiative celebrates the remarkable achievements of these “extraordinary she-roes” and ensures their stories endure for generations. “These beautiful American Women quarters will be in circulation for decades to come and continue to educate the American people on our incredible honorees,” Gibson stated.
Highlighting the 2024 Honorees
The final set of quarters for the program honors five remarkable women who shaped history in unique ways.
1. Ida B. Wells: Journalist, Suffragist, and Civil Rights Activist
Born into slavery during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells became a fearless journalist, advocating for the end of lynching and championing women’s voting rights. She also co-founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. Her quarter, sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, features her roles as a journalist, suffragist, and civil rights advocate.
2. Juliette Gordon Low: Founder of the Girl Scouts
In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization that would later become the Girl Scouts, inspired by her meeting with the British founder of the Boy Scouts, Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Her coin, crafted by sculptor Eric David Custer, depicts Low in uniform alongside the original Girl Scout Trefoil, a symbol she designed.
3. Vera Rubin: Groundbreaking Astronomer
Defying societal expectations, Vera Rubin revolutionized astronomy and contributed significantly to the understanding of dark matter. She published over 100 scientific papers, expanding humanity’s knowledge of the universe. Sculpted by John P. McGraw, her quarter shows Rubin gazing into the cosmos with a spiral galaxy in the background.
4. Stacey Park Milbern: Disability Rights Activist
Born with congenital muscular dystrophy, Stacey Park Milbern became a leader in the disability rights movement, founding the Disability Justice Culture Club. Her contributions include serving on President Barack Obama’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities and co-producing Netflix’s Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Sculpted by Craig A. Campbell, Milbern’s coin honors her legacy.
5. Althea Gibson: Trailblazing Tennis and Golf Champion
Before modern icons like Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, there was Althea Gibson, who broke racial barriers in sports. She was the first Black woman to win the U.S. Nationals, French Championship, and Wimbledon, later excelling in golf as the first Black woman on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Renata Gordon sculpted Gibson’s quarter, which celebrates her as a “trailblazing champion.”
A Legacy of Representation
Since 1979, when Susan B. Anthony became the first woman to appear on a U.S. circulating coin, the representation of women on currency has progressed significantly. With the completion of the American Women Quarters Program, the stories of 20 influential women now join Anthony’s, creating a diverse and enduring legacy on U.S. coins.
2024 American Women Quarters Honorees
| Name | Achievements | Coin Sculptor |
|---|---|---|
| Ida B. Wells | Journalist, suffragist, and civil rights activist; fought lynching and championed voting rights | Phebe Hemphill |
| Juliette Gordon Low | Founder of the Girl Scouts and creator of the Girl Scout Trefoil | Eric David Custer |
| Vera Rubin | Pioneering astronomer; advanced the understanding of dark matter | John P. McGraw |
| Stacey Park Milbern | Disability rights activist; co-produced Crip Camp and advocated for justice | Craig A. Campbell |
| Althea Gibson | First Black woman to win major tennis championships; broke racial barriers in golf | Renata Gordon |
FAQs
What is the purpose of the American Women Quarters Program?
The program aims to highlight the contributions of influential women in U.S. history, offering more gender-balanced representation on currency.
How many women have been honored in this program?
A total of 20 women have been honored over the four years of the program, with five new designs released each year since 2022.
Who sculpted the final 2024 quarters?
The 2024 coins were sculpted by renowned artists, including Phebe Hemphill, Eric David Custer, John P. McGraw, Craig A. Campbell, and Renata Gordon.
