Today, Oct. 24, the United States Mint starts shipping Anna May Wong quarters for circulation.
Considered the first Chinese American movie star in Hollywood, Anna May Wong is one of this year’s five trailblazing women celebrated on 25-cent coinage as a part of the U.S. Mint’s four-year series of American Women quarter dollars.
Earlier honorees include Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, and Nina Otero-Warren. This series will continue through 2025 with designs for 2023 already announced.
"The fifth coin in our American Women Quarters Program honors Anna May Wong, a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors," said U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. "This quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments by Anna May Wong, who overcame challenges and obstacles she faced during her lifetime."
Created by Emily Damstra and sculpted by John P. McGraw, the new quarter’s reverse (tails side) depicts a close-up image of Anna May Wong with her head resting on her hand, surrounded by the bright lights of a marquee sign.
Obverses (heads side) for all quarters in the series share a depiction of George Washington that was sculpted 90 years ago by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark Washington’s 200th birthday.
Quarters for circulation are struck at U.S. Mint production facilities in Philadelphia and Denver.
Upcoming also, on Oct. 25, the Mint at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ will offer Anna May Wong quarters in an uncirculated finish for coin collectors. Uncirculated quarters originate from the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. They are hand-loaded into coining presses and struck on specially burnished blanks to a produce a brilliant finish. Product options will include a two-roll set, a three-roll set, and 100-coin bags at prices ranging from $36 to $54.
