Today, June 2, the United States Mint began shipping 2025 Dr. Vera Rubin quarters to Federal Reserve Banks and their coin terminals for distribution into circulation. This coin marks the third of five unique quarter designs for this year and the eighteenth overall in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters™ Program.
At the start of the four-year, 20-coin series in 2022, the trailblazers honored were Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren, and Anna May Wong. Quarters released in 2023 extended the celebration of the accomplishments and contributions made by American women by honoring Bessie Coleman, Edith Kanakaʻole, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar, and Maria Tallchief. The 2024 quarters pay tribute to Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Celia Cruz, and Zitkala-Ša. In addition to Dr. Vera Rubin, quarters for 2025 celebrate Ida B. Wells, Juliette Gordon Low, Stacey Park Milbern, and Althea Gibson.
Dr. Vera Rubin (1928–2016) was an American astronomer best known for her pioneering work on galaxy rotation rates, which provided critical evidence for the existence of dark matter.
"The data on dark matter from dozens of galaxies that Rubin presented to the International Astronomical Union in 1985 ultimately changed scientific conceptions of the universe and opened new paths in both astronomy and physics," noted Kristie McNally, the Mint’s Acting Director.
The new quarter’s reverse (tails side) shows Dr. Vera Rubin in profile, smiling as she looks upward in contemplation of the cosmos. A spiral galaxy and surrounding celestial bodies frame the scene. Inscriptions include "DR. VERA RUBIN," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," with "DARK MATTER" appearing along the bottom.
This image was designed by Artist Infusion Program designer Christina Hess and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw.
"Dr. Rubin’s story exemplifies strength, dedication, and determination, and it was a great honor to illustrate her portrait and legacy," said Hess. "By positioning her portrait off-center and toward the upper right, I aimed to move the audience’s gaze upward, symbolizing exploration beyond the coin’s boundaries, evoking a sense of infinite possibility and continuous motion."
"Vera Rubin was an American astronomer and genius," said McGraw. "Layering her portrait with the galaxy in the background made for a fun and challenging sculpt. I feel honored that I was given the opportunity to memorialize her and her contributions to science on a coin."
The obverse (heads side) of every American Women Quarter features a common design – a portrait of George Washington. Sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser more than 90 years ago, the image was originally created to commemorate Washington’s 200th birthday.
Quarters for circulation are produced at U.S. Mint production facilities in Philadelphia and Denver.
On Tuesday, June 3, the U.S. Mint will offer circulating quality Dr. Vera Rubin quarters to the public via their website at https://catalog.usmint.gov. These quarters will be offered in three different product options:
- a set of two rolls for $42,
- a set of three rolls for $63, and
- 100-coin bags at $47.25 apiece.
Notably, the three-roll set includes a roll of quarters from the San Francisco Mint, offering a unique level of rarity since, unlike those from Philadelphia and Denver, these quarters are not released into general circulation.
Gotta give the designer a HAND. Once again, a hand is a prominent feature of the coin and for absolutely no reason (that I can think of).
The silver rocket has picked up additional velocity from early morning takeoff!! Hi ho SILVER (hope Cag doesn’t have that $100k short on!)
With the gold:silver ratio ~ 100:1 for two months now, silver finally exploded higher today, doubling gold’s gain and dropping the GSR by -2.4% to 97.4; Around 2:30pm ET, the US$ index down -0.6%, 24hr gold price up +2.5%, 24hr silver price up +5.0%, and 24hr gold/silver ratio down -2.4%.
For Those Interested, Below are last month’s site traffic numbers for our beloved website and our evil competitor. Again, I must state the importance of site traffic, as it is the life blood and longevity of any coin site. The proxy rouge actors are gone and just the genuine posters remain behind now. So, post in peace, protect it, and appreciate what we have. Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to coinnews.net, any coin retailer, any TPG, any publisher, any manufacturer, any web site, or any coin auction firm. I am a private collector that collects for pleasure and intellectual enjoyment… Read more »
E 1,
It seems to me the mint is doing a fine job of killing interest in coin collecting…modern coinage anyway. I recently bought a roll of ASE’s for $41.30/coin instead of the mints uncirculated ASE for $91.00. My ASE’s don’t have a W mint mark, but they have a cool looking eagle privy and for half the cost! I haven’t bought a single coin from the mint since I received my RP M/P set last year and may not buy those this year. Great marketing minds at the mint. Cheers
Craig, I am sorry to say but I am no longer a buyer of the ASE. Half dollars from Barber to Kennedy – yes. This year’s 2025-S Proof Silver Kennedy – yes. The World mints are cranking out so many different coins these days that it clouds my vision for any type of modern collecting strategy. Now adays, there are just too many options. That wasn’t the case twenty-five years ago. I’ve mainly gone back to the American classics. I will finish my Kennedy and Shield Cent albums this year. One more proof AGE for 2025 and that should do… Read more »
Is there any tips on how to get in the waiting room on the mint site?I haven’t purchase anything at release time for 2 years and need to know how to go about doing this?Do you log in ahead of time and keep refreshing or how do you do it?Thanks in advance.