United States Mint Begins Shipping 2024 American Women Quarters™ Honoring Celia Cruz on August 5
31 Julio 2024 - 12:35PM
The United States Mint (Mint) will begin shipping the fourth coin
honoring Celia Cruz in the 2024 American Women Quarters (AWQ)
Program on August 5. The Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver
manufacture these circulating quarters.
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American singer and cultural
icon. Known as “The Queen of Salsa,” she became one of the most
popular Latin artists of the 20th century. She brought a vivacity
to her stage performances that filled her music as well as the
stage. Cruz’s numerous honors and awards include four Latin Grammy
awards, the National Medal of Arts, and a posthumous Lifetime
Achievement Grammy.
“The fourth coin of the 2024 American Women
Quarters Program celebrates the life and legacy of Celia Cruz,”
said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. “Celia Cruz’s influence
reached well beyond her music. She was proud of and celebrated her
Cuban culture, which empowered Afro-Latino Americans in embracing
their heritage, making her an important and enduring cultural
icon.”
United States Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill
designed and sculpted the image.
“I knew I had to make the design for superstar
Celia Cruz as dynamic as she was,” said Hemphill. “I watched her
perform in her famous rumba dress and tried to create a design that
truly reflected her greatness and vitality.”
The reverse (tails) features a dynamic depiction of
Celia Cruz flashing her dazzling smile while performing in a rumba
style dress. Her signature catchphrase “¡AZÚCAR!” is inscribed on
the right.
Each coin in this series features a common obverse
(heads) design depicting a portrait of George Washington. This
design was originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser
as a candidate entry for the 1932 quarter, which honored the
bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The inscriptions are
“LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2024.”
Each 2024 AWQ honoree is a powerful, inspiring
example of the breadth, depth, and range of accomplishments, and
the experiences demonstrated by these extraordinary women speak to
the contributions women have always made in the history of our
country. Coins featuring additional honorees will continue to ship
through 2025.
View images of the Celia Cruz quarter here.
Authorized by Public Law 116-330, the American
Women Quarters Program features coins with reverse (tails) designs
emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of American
women. Beginning in 2022 and continuing through 2025, the Mint is
issuing five quarters in each of these years. The ethnically,
racially, and geographically diverse group of individuals honored
through this program reflects a wide range of accomplishments and
fields, including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government,
humanities, science, space, and the arts.
Please consult with your local financial
institutions regarding the availability of AWQ Program quarters
honoring Celia Cruz in the latter part of August or early
September.
Numismatic ProductsThis
groundbreaking coin program is an excellent way to remind future
generations what can be accomplished with vision, determination,
and a desire to improve opportunities for all. Subscribe to the
program today to ensure fulfillment of your favorite product
through 2025.
About the United States
MintCongress created the United States Mint in 1792, and
the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As
the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is
responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to
conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic
products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins;
Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and
gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and
operate at no cost to taxpayers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Visit
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-women-quarters
for information about the American Women Quarters Program.
- Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the
United States Mint.
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to view videos about the United States Mint.
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That Make Cents.
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For more information:Public Affairs United States
Mintinquiries@usmint.treas.gov202-354-7222
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf9bd58d-d7dd-4605-86b7-2231f28dcb7d