United States Mint will begin taking orders on February 7 at noon EST, for the Maya Angelou Quarter, the 1st quarter in the American Women Quarters Program. The first coin features Maya Angelou. She was more than just a writer, performer, and activist. She was also a teacher and a social activist.
Her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which was one of the first autobiographies to be published in English, made Angelou an international celebrity as an author. She has written over 30 bestselling books in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Aside from her distinguished career in dance, theatre, journalism, and activism, she has also worked in politics and social movements. The inauguration of President William J. Clinton in 1992 was a significant event for Angelou, who received more than 30 honorary degrees during her lifetime. There had never been a woman of African-American descent who read her poem at a presidential inauguration before Angelou. In addition, President Barack Obama presented the National Book Award for Literary Contributions to Angelou in 2010, and she was honored with the Literarian Award in 2013.
A picture of the Maya Angelou Quarter with her arms raised appears on the coin’s reverse. The image behind her is of a bird in flight and the rising sun, which symbolizes her life and inspiration for her poetry. Emily Damstra, a designer with the United States Mint’s Arts Infusion Program, designed the coin, and Craig A. Campbell, a medallic artist with the Mint, sculpted it. It is inscribed with “United States of America,” “Maya Angelou,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Quarter Dollar.”
Laura Gardin Fraser created the coin’s obverse to commemorate George Washington’s 200th birthday. John Flanagan designed the design chosen for the 1932 quarter after Andrew Mellon reviewed several designs. There are three inscriptions on the obverse: “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “2022.” The obverse design is identical for the entire series.
Here are the pricing and product options:
Two mints produce bags of Maya Angelou Quarters: the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint. You will find quarters from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco in the three-roll set.
Maya Angelou Quarters graded Brilliant Uncirculated and higher, encapsulated by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), will be available on the American Women Quarters website operated by Rick’s Innovation Dollars in late February.
Bookmark www.americanwomenquarters.com and check in for the latest women quarters in the series.
A Brief History of the United States Mint
The US Mint was established in 1792 by Congress and was integrated into the Treasury Department in 1873. The United States Mint is the sole producer of legal tender coins and produces circulating coins for trade and commerce throughout the country.
Furthermore, the United States Mint offers proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins, in addition to numismatic products. The Mint’s numismatic programs operate for no cost to taxpayers and are self-sustaining.
