The United States unveiled designs for the second-year coins from their four-year series of American Women quarter dollars. Authorized under Public Law 116-330, the program of quarters has reverses (tails side) honoring the accomplishments of women who helped shaped American history.
There will be five unique designs every year from 2022 through 2025. Designs for 2023 recognize the achievements of Bessie Coleman, Edith Kanaka’ole, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar, and Maria Tallchief.
"I am pleased to announce the designs of the 2023 American Women Quarters," said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. "These beautiful designs honor the achievements of these amazing women and add to the Mint’s rich history of rendering the history of our Nation in enduring examples of numismatic art."
U.S. Mint-published line art images and descriptions of the five quarter designs follow.
Bessie Coleman – first African American and first Native American woman pilot
Designer: Chris Costello, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Eric David Custer, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts Bessie Coleman as she suits up in preparation for flight, her expression reflective of her determination to take to the skies, the only place she experienced a freedom she did not have on the ground. The inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "BESSIE COLEMAN," and "6.15.1921," the date Coleman received her pilot’s license.
Edith Kanaka’ole – indigenous Hawaiian composer, custodian of native culture and traditions
Designer: Emily Damstra, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Edith Kanaka’ole, with her hair and lei po’o (head lei) morphing into the elements of a Hawaiian landscape, symbolizing Kanaka’ole’s life’s work of preserving the natural land and traditional Hawaiian culture. The inscription "E hō mai ka ‘ike" translates as "granting the wisdom," and is a reference to the intertwined role hula and chants play in this preservation. Additional inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "25¢," and "EDITH KANAKA’OLE."
Eleanor Roosevelt – first lady, author, and civil liberties advocate
Designer: Don Everhart, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt and the scales of justice against a backdrop representing the globe, symbolic of her impactful work with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES of AMERICA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "ELEANOR ROOSEVELT," and "UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS."
Jovita Idar – Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist
Designer: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Sculptor: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Jovita Idar with her hands clasped. Within her body are inscriptions representing some of her greatest accomplishments and the newspapers for which she wrote. The text includes the inscriptions "MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS," "TEACHER," "JOVITA IDAR," "NURSE," "EVOLUCIÓN," "ASTREA," "EL HERALDO CRISTIANO," "LA CRUZ BLANCA," "JOURNALIST," "LA CRÓNICA," "EL PROGRESO," and "LA LIGA FEMENIL MEXICANISTA," as well as "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
Maria Tallchief – America’s first prima ballerina
Designer: Ben Sowards, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, United States Mint Chief Engraver
This design depicts Maria Tallchief spotlit in balletic pose, and her Osage name, which translates to "Two Standards," written in Osage orthography. Additional inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "QUARTER DOLLAR," and "MARIA TALLCHIEF."
Common Obverse Design
The obverse (heads side) design is common across all quarters in the four-year series. It features a portrait of George Washington and was originally created by artist Laura Gardin Fraser to mark Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932.
Inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "2022."
Release dates for U.S. Mint 2023 quarter products should become available later this year.
Quarters for 2022 honor Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong.
