United States Mint images of their five 2023-dated American Women Quarters™ are now available. Authorized under Public Law 116-330, the U.S. Mint’s four-year program of unique quarters starts its second year in 2023 with another five coins that recognize trailblazing women who have shaped American history.
Altogether, there will be 20 quarters with five releases per year from 2022 through 2025. Quarters for 2022 celebrate Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong. Those for 2023 honor:
- Bessie Coleman – first African American and first Native American woman pilot
- Edith Kanaka’ole – indigenous Hawaiian composer, custodian of native culture and traditions
- Eleanor Roosevelt – first lady, author, and civil liberties advocate
- Jovita Idar – Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist
- Maria Tallchief – America’s first prima ballerina
In September, the U.S. Mint published designs for these quarters that resulted from a several-step selection process.
Release Dates
While images of the actual coins are now available, dates are yet to be announced for when each quarter will enter circulation. Based on history, the five will have staggered releases with launches in January, March, June, August, and October or November.
In addition, most release dates are unknown for collectible products featuring the quarters. The U.S. Mint currently has Feb. 14, 2023, as the launch date for rolls and bags of Bessie Coleman quarters.
U.S. Mint subscriptions for 2023 quarters product are available. Subscribers to Mint products automatically receive them when they are released.
2023 Quarter Images
Larger U.S. Mint-published images and descriptions of the five quarters follow.
Bessie Coleman
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
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
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
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
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 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."
