Believe it or not, the America the Beautiful Quarters finally ends after 12 years. The last one, the Alabama Tuskegee Airmen quarter, comes out in early 2021. The US Mint then decides for the remainder of 2021 to release quarters showing George Washington crossing the Delaware. Though they come out in 2021, I don’t find my first one in change until February 2022. The one thing I don’t realize is the year appears under Washington’s profile for the first time since 1998. So, what’s next for the Washington Quarter. First, there are the Statehood Quarters, then the America the Beautiful Quarters, and now, women on Washington Quarters?
Women On Washington Quarters?
The early United States coins like the Seated Liberty, Standing Liberty and Walking Liberty coins have a depiction of a “Goddess of Liberty”, but not a particular woman. Some say that the Morgan Dollar was the first US coin with a woman on the obverse. Mint engraver George T. Morgan uses Philadelphia teacher Anna Williams as a model for the new dollar coin, but it still depicts Liberty. Anthony de Francisci uses his wife Teresa as a model for the Peace Dollar, but once again, the obverse is considered to be the Goddess of Liberty.
The twentieth century introduces men on circulating US coins including Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The circulating Eisenhower Dollar has no silver and ends up being too big for purses or pants pockets. This makes the dollar bill more popular. By 1977, the mint considers replacing the dollar coin with a smaller version. The early 1970s introduce the Equal Rights Amendment and this makes Congress decide to have a real woman on the new dollar. The result is to use social reformer Susan B. Anthony.
Susan B. Anthony Dollar
By 1979, over 750,000,000 Susan B. Anthony dollars from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco are in circulation. Unfortunately, the coin doesn’t fare well. As a result, the vending industry spends over $100,000,000 dollars to allow vending machines to use this dollar. With the new dollar being a little larger than a quarter, people don’t want to use them as they will mistake one for the other. As a result, only around 90,000,000 come out in 1980 and 10,000,000 in 1981. By the 1990s, the only vending machines using the dollars are ones dispensing stamps at Post Offices. In 1999, the mint releases 40,000,000 more Susan B. Anthony Dollars in preparation of the next dollar.
Sacagawea Dollar
The new century brings a new dollar. This time it will be made of copper and manganese brass to give it more of a gold color, similar to the ones that Canada produces. Replacing Susan B. Anthony will be the Native American guide of Lewis and Clark, Sacagawea. Over 1,200,000,000 dollars are minted in 2000. They work well for vending machines but not the public. As a result, by 2002, the dollars can only be found in proof and mint sets. The mint tries again in 2009 by replacing the reverse eagle annually with something from Native American culture and renames it the Native American Dollar. Sacagawea is still on the obverse but the dollar is again out of circulation since 2012.
Celebrating Women On Washington Quarters
So, 2022 will introduce five women on Washington Quarters:
- Maya Angelou – well-known writer and social activist
- Dr. Sally Ride – first US woman astronaut in space
- Wilma Mankiller – first woman elected chief of the Cherokee Nation
- Nina Otero-Warren – first woman superintendent of Santa Fe public schools
- Anna May Wong – first Chinese American film star
2023:
- Bessie Coleman – first Native American woman pilot
- Edith Kanakaʻole – native Hawaiian teacher, chanter and composer
- Eleanor Roosevelt – wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and advocate for civil rights and social justice
- Jovita Idar – educator, publisher, and advocate for the rights of Mexican Americans
- Maria Tallchief – first American prima ballerina
2024:
- the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray – American civil rights activist, author and an Episcopal priest
- Patsy Takemoto Mink – first Asian American woman to serve in the United States Congress
- Dr. Mary Edwards Walker – a Civil War surgeon and only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor
- Celia Cruz – a Cuban American entertainer who released over 50 albums and known as “Queen of Salsa”
- Zitkala-Ša – co-founded the National Council of American Indians which allowed passage of the Indian Citizenship Act.
2025:
- Ida B. Wells – pioneering Investigative Journalist
- Juliette Gordon Low – founded the Girl Scouts of America
- Dr. Vera Rubin – trailblazing Astronomer
- Stacey Park Milbern – advocate of Disability Rights
- Althea Gibson – first Black woman to compete on the Pro-Golf Tour, the U.S. Tennis National Championships, and Wimbledon
What About The Obverse?
The obverse of the quarter will also go through a makeover with a different profile of George Washington which is considered when the Washington Quarter first comes out in 1932. It is significant to note that this design is originally sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser. With the design of the Alabama Commemorative Half Dollar in 1921, Fraser becomes the first American woman to design a US coin. Another thing to note is that Washington is pointing right on the quarter for the first time. The year will also be on the right side of the obverse instead of directly at the bottom.
These quarters will be in circulation as well as in mint and proof sets.
How Do You Like The Women Quarters?
Unlike the previous Washington Quarter series, the women quarters are only out for four years, with 2025 being to final year. That is partially because 2026 is America’s 250th birthday and the Mint will probably do something on the quarter and the half dollar, at least, like they did in 1976.
There are only 20 different Women Quarters out, but unlike the Innovation Dollars, they are out in circulation for all to enjoy.