Back in March it was announced by the United States Mint who the 2024 Honorees were for the 2024 American Women Quarters. Last month, they finally unveiled the official designs to come next year as they will recognize the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray, Zitkala-Ša, and Celia Cruz.
2024 will mark the third year for the program which was authorized by Public Law 116-330. The American Women Quarters Program will run through 2025 and aims to honor the accomplishments and contributions of American women, issuing five quarters in each year. The accomplishments honored and recognized reflect a wide range of fields, including civil rights, abolition, science, space, suffrage, government, the arts, and humanities.
All of the quarters share a common obverse. The design featured was done by Laura Gardin Fraser, one of the most prominent female sculptors of the early 20th century. It depicts a portrait of George Washington, which was originally done for his 200th birthday in anticipation for the 1932-dated quarter dollar. John Flannigan’s design, however, was ultimately used.
The Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink
The first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy Takemoto Mink fought for racial and gender equality, affordable childcare, and bilingual education. She helped with the passage of Title IX which was later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.
Holding the historic “TITLE IX” legislation, Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink is seen with a view of the U.S. Capitol Building behind her and more specifically, the south wing. That is where the House of Representatives reside and where she served in Congress. Around her neck is a lei representing her home state of Hawaii. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “PATSY TAKEMOTO MINK,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “25 CENTS,” and “EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION” is inscribed around the entirety of the design.
Designer: Beth Zaiken, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
Crossing battle lines to care for wounded soldiers, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a Civil War era surgeon who at one point was captured by Confederate troops as a suspected spy. She was held prisoner for four months during the war and is the only woman to be given the Medal of Honor. She was also a women’s rights advocate and abolitionist.
The reverse design depicts Dr. Mary Edwards Walker holding her pocket surgical kit with the Medal of Honor on her uniform. A surgeon's pin is also on her collar. To the left of her showcases the details of the Medal of Honor, which she continued to wear for the rest of her life. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “25 CENTS,” “DR. MARY EDWARDS WALKER,” and “MEDAL OF HONOR 1865” are also inscribed.
Designer: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray
A fierce advocate for civil rights and a fighter against racial and sex discrimination, Pauli Murray was a poet, writer, activist, lawyer, and Episcopal priest. She co-founded the National Organization for Women in 1966 with Betty Friedan and other activists. She is regarded as one of the most important social justice advocates of the 20th century.
Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray’s face framed with glasses peeking through the word “HOPE” is depicted on the reverse. This is symbolic of her belief that societal reforms were possible when stemmed from hope. “A SONG IN A WEARY THROAT” is inscribed within the word, which is a line from her poem “Dark Testament.” Additional inscriptions read “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “25C,” “THE REVEREND DR. PAULI MURRAY,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Designer: Emily Damstra, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, United States Chief Engraver
Zitkala-Ša (Red Bird)
Zitkala-Ša left her home on the Yankton reservation in South Dakota at the young age of just eight to attend a boarding school run by white missionaries. There, her native culture and traditions were not allowed. She would grow up to become a composer, writer, educator, and political activist for Native Americans’ right to obtain United States citizenship and to gain the other civil rights they had been denied.
In traditional Yankton Sioux dress, Zitkala-Ša is seen holding a book on the reverse, which is meant to represent her work as not only an author but a successful activist for Native American rights. A stylized sun is seen behind her, which is symbolic of her work on The Sun Dance Opera. A cardinal is included in the design to represent her name which translates to “Red Bird,” and a Yankton Sioux-inspired diamond pattern sits underneath the sun. Inscriptions featured are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “AUTHOR,” “ACTIVIST,” “COMPOSER,” “25 CENTS,” and “ZITKALA- ŠA.”
Designer: Don Everhart, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Celia Cruz
A Cuban American singer, Celia Cruz was a cultural icon and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. She has been awarded numerous honors, including five Grammy awards, a National Medal of Arts, and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy. She is known as “The Queen of Salsa.”
With an incredible smile, Celia Cruz is featured performing in a rumba style dress in this design. “¡AZÚCAR!” is seen inscribed on the right as it is her signature catchphrase. Additionally, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “25C,” and “CELIA CRUZ” are inscribed.
Designer: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Source: United States Mint
