History has been made.
Dr. Maya Angelou has become the first African American woman to be featured on the U.S. quarter. Deputy Director of the U.S. Mint, Ventris C. Gibson, said in a statement, “It is my honor to present our Nation’s first circulating coins dedicated to celebrating American women and their contributions to American history.”
He continued, “each 2022 quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments being celebrated throughout this historic coin program. Maya Angelou, featured on the reverse of this first coin in the series, used words to inspire and uplift.”
The back of the coin was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Craig A. Campbell. It shows Dr. Angelou’s arms raised with a symbol of a bird behind her which is meant to represent her work as a poet and “the way she lived.”
This is an honor I’m such she would be proud of.
She passed away on May 28th, 2014 at age 86. May she continue to rest peacefully.
Excited to announce that today, Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter!
The phenomenal women who shaped American history have gone unrecognized for too long—especially women of color. Proud to have led this bill to honor their legacies. pic.twitter.com/TYZeEJ8LhX
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 10, 2022