Some of the greatest US presidents have graced the front of US coins since 1938 and include John F. Kennedy on the half dollar, George Washington on the quarter, Franklin Roosevelt on the dime and Abraham Lincoln on the penny, according to the United States Mint. All are male. The first woman to appear on a coin was Susan B. Anthony on the dollar coin that was minted from 1979-1981.
While the fronts of coins rarely change, the backs of quarters have been used to celebrate state symbols, national parks, and famous Americans. A series honoring women who helped shape America began in 2022 and has featured five women a year and is now in its final year. These trailblazing women who made their mark on history come from various occupations, ethnicities, religions, and races, reported CBS News.
“This program has recognized the remarkable legacies of these extraordinary she-roes. These beautiful American Women quarters will be in circulation for decades to come and continue to educate the American people on our incredible honorees,“ the US Mint director Ventris C. Gibson said in a press release.
US currency has come a long way from the Susan B. Anthony coin today. Here are the five inspiring women who are being honored in 2025.
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells, (1862-1931) was a Black woman who was born into slavery in Mississippi, reported Fast Company. This extraordinary woman became a journalist who championed women’s right to vote and fought against lynching in the South. Wells was a founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club and was a civil rights activist. Artist Phebe Hemphill sculpted the Wells quarter.
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) founded the Girl Guides – now called Girl Scouts – in 1912 after meeting UK’s Boy Scouts founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell. She designed the first uniform and published the first handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country. There are now nearly 3.7 million members. Low was depicted in her uniform by sculptor Eric David Custer.
Vera Rubin
Also depicted is Vera Rubin (1928-2016) who attended Vassar University and went on to become an astronomer who expanded the knowledge of the universe. She published over 100 scientific papers. Rubin's image was sculpted by artist John P. McGraw.
Stacy Park Milbern
Stacy Park Milbern (1987-2020) was born with congenital muscular dystrophy but didn’t let her medical condition stop her from becoming an activist for people with disabilities. She founded the Disability Justice Culture Club and was named by then President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities in 2014. She also produced the Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution in 2020. Craig A. Campbell sculpted her coin.
Althea Gibson
Famous athlete Althea Gibson (1927-2003) was the first Black woman to cross the color line in international tennis. She won the US Nationals, French Championship, and Wimbledon. This multi-talented athlete later became a golfer and the first Black woman on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Renata Gordon sculpted Gibson’s image for her quarter.
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