The United States announced the final designs for the third-year coins of their four-year program of American Women quarter dollars. Authorized under Public Law 116-330, the series of quarters has reverses (tails side) honoring the accomplishments of women who helped shape American history.
There will be five unique designs every year from 2022 through 2025. Those for 2024 recognize the achievements of Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray, the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Celia Cruz, and Zitkala-Ša.
"I am honored to announce the designs of the 2024 American Women’s Quarters Program," said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. "These beautiful designs recognize the achievements of these extraordinary women, and add to the Mint’s rich history of telling our Nation’s story through enduring examples of numismatic art."
As required by law, the Secretary of the Treasury selects the women to be honored after consulting with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, the National Women’s History Museum, and the Congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus.
In all, 40 candidate designs for the quarters were considered before recommendations were made to the Treasury Secretary by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).
U.S. Mint-published line art images and descriptions of the five quarter designs follow.
Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray
Designer: Designed by Emily Damstra, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, United States Mint Chief Engraver
Depicts Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray’s eyeglass-framed face within the shape of the word "HOPE," which is symbolic of Murray’s belief that significant societal reforms were possible when rooted in hope. A line from her poem "Dark Testament" that characterizes hope as "A SONG IN A WEARY THROAT" is featured as an additional inscription in the design. The included inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "25₵," "THE REVEREND DR. PAULI MURRAY," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
The Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink
Designer: Beth Zaiken, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Depicts the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink holding her landmark "TITLE IX" legislation. In the background, a view of the U.S. Capitol Building prominently features the south wing, home to the U.S. House of Representatives, where Mink served in Congress. The lei she wears represents her home state of Hawaii. The included inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "PATSY TAKEMOTO MINK," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "25 CENTS," and "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION."
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
Designer & Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Depicts Dr. Mary Edwards Walker holding her pocket surgical kit, with the Medal of Honor on her uniform, and surgeon’s pin at her collar. After receiving the award, she continued to wear the Medal of Honor for the rest of her life. The left side of the design showcases the details of the Medal of Honor. The inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "25 CENTS," "DR. MARY EDWARDS WALKER," and "MEDAL OF HONOR 1865."
Celia Cruz
Designer & Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Depicts Celia Cruz flashing her dazzling smile while performing in a rumba style dress. Her signature catchphrase "¡AZÚCAR!" is inscribed on the right. Additional inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "25₵," and "CELIA CRUZ."
Zitkala-Ša
Designer: Don Everhart, Artistic Infusion Program
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Depicts Zitkala-Ša in traditional Yankton Sioux dress. She is holding a book, which represents her work as an author as well as her successful activism for Native American rights. Behind her, a stylized sun represents her work on The Sun Dance Opera, while a cardinal symbolizes her name, which translates to "Red Bird." A Yankton Sioux-inspired diamond pattern sits underneath the sun. The included inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "AUTHOR," "ACTIVIST," "COMPOSER," "25 CENTS," and "ZITKALA-ŠA."
Common Obverse Design
All coins of the series share the same obverse (heads side) portrait of George Washington. The likeness of the first President of the United States was originally created by artist Laura Gardin Fraser to mark Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932.
Obverse inscriptions will read "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "2024."
Quarters released in 2022 honor Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong.
Quarters for 2023 honor Bessie Coleman, Edith Kanakaʻole, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar, and Maria Tallchief.
