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The U.S. Mint has recently revealed the design for the 5 coins that will be a part of the collection of women honorees for the 2024 edition of the American Women Quarters Program. Among the selected women is Celia Cruz, the Cuban superstar known as the “Queen of Salsa,” who becomes the first Afro-Latina to be represented on a U.S. quarter.
The design for Cruz’s quarter features the beloved entertainer wearing a ball gown while displaying her traditional smile. Alongside her name, her signature catchphrase, “Azúcar!” (which means sugar), is also inscribed on the coin. The Mint has described the design, emphasizing that the 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter is the 14th coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program and recognizing her as a Cuban-American singer, cultural icon, and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century.
Cruz, who was born in Havana in 1925, began her singing career in the 1940s but went into exile in the United States after a performing tour in Mexico following the outbreak of the 1959 Cuban revolution. Despite the challenges she faced, Cruz became an internationally renowned artist, known for her incredible talent and unparalleled charisma. She succeeded in a music genre dominated by male artists and became a symbol of empowerment for women of color.
Throughout her career, Cruz achieved numerous accolades and awards. In 1994, President Bill Clinton honored her with the President’s National Medal of Arts, recognizing her significant contributions to the field of music. Even after her passing, she continued to be recognized for her contributions with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Her legacy includes recording more than 80 albums, with 23 of them achieving gold status. She was the recipient of three Grammy Awards and four Latin Grammy Awards.
In addition to Cruz, the other women chosen for the 2024 coins are:
1. Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii: She was the first woman of color to serve in Congress.
2. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker: A Civil War-era surgeon, women’s rights advocate, and abolitionist.
3. Reverend Pauli Murray: A poet, writer, activist, lawyer, and Episcopal priest.
4. Zitkala-Ša (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin): She was a writer, composer, educator, and political activist advocating for Native American citizenship and civil rights.
The selection process for these women honorees involved consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Smithsonian Museum of American Women’s History, the National Museum of Women’s History, and the Bipartisan Congressional Women’s Caucus.
The American Women Quarters Program aims to highlight and honor the achievements of remarkable women in American history. By featuring these women on U.S. quarters, the program seeks to raise awareness of their contributions and inspire future generations. The unveiling of the coin designs has generated excitement and anticipation for the program’s release in 2024.
This announcement by the U.S. Mint holds great significance, not only in celebrating the accomplishments of these exceptional women but also in promoting diversity and representation on U.S. currency. It is a powerful and symbolic step towards recognizing the impact of individuals from diverse backgrounds in shaping American history and culture.
As the first Afro-Latina to be featured on a U.S. quarter, Celia Cruz’s commemorative coin will undoubtedly serve as a tribute to her groundbreaking contributions to the music industry and her cultural legacy. It will honor her as a trailblazer for Afro-Latinx artists and as an icon of strength and resilience.
The American Women Quarters Program is a testament to the ongoing efforts to highlight the stories of women throughout history who have made lasting impacts in their respective fields. By immortalizing their images and achievements on U.S. currency, these women will serve as a constant reminder of the diverse and influential voices that have shaped America.
With the release of the 2024 American Women Quarters, individuals will have the opportunity to carry a piece of history in their pockets and celebrate the remarkable women who have left an indelible mark on society. The coins will not only serve as a means of transaction but also as tangible symbols of the progress made in recognizing the contributions of women and promoting diversity in the United States.
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