She’s made numismatic history!

The Maya Angelou quarter, issued by the U.S. Mint, is now in circulation — marking the first time a Black woman has been featured on a U.S. coin. (U.S. Mint; ABC 7 News)

Last year, it was officially announced that the late Dr. Maya Angelou would become the first Black woman honored under the American Women Quarters Program, created by Congress and passed in 2020. (U.S. Mint; ABC News) The program, introduced by Senators Deb Fischer and Catherine Cortez Masto, calls for the issuance of twenty quarters over four years (2022–2025), each commemorating an American woman who has made significant contributions to the nation. (U.S. Mint; Smithsonian’s Women’s History)

Beginning in January 2022, the U.S. Mint began shipping the first Maya Angelou quarters from its Philadelphia and Denver facilities. (U.S. Mint) These coins carry forward the tradition of George Washington’s portrait on the “heads” (obverse) side — but the “tails” (reverse) side is specially designed to celebrate Angelou’s legacy. (U.S. Mint; ABC News)

The reverse features an expressive image of Angelou with her arms uplifted, in front of a bird in flight and a rising sun — imagery inspired by her iconic 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (from which the bird symbol draws). (U.S. Mint; U.S. Mint press designs) The inscriptions include “MAYA ANGELOU,” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.” (U.S. Mint) The sculpt was executed by Craig A. Campbell, with design by Emily Damstra. (U.S. Mint; Women’s History)

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen remarked that each redesign of U.S. currency presents an opportunity to reflect national values. She expressed pride that the new quarter series celebrates the achievements of outstanding American women like Maya Angelou. (Treasury Department)

Senator Cortez Masto, a sponsor of the program, said that Angelou was an ideal choice to inaugurate the series:

“This coin will ensure generations of Americans learn about Maya Angelou’s books and poetry that spoke to the lived experience of Black women.” (U.S. Mint press)

Angelou’s coin shares the stage with planned forthcoming issues honoring other trailblazing women: Sally Ride (first American woman in space), Wilma Mankiller (first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation), Nina Otero-Warren (a suffrage leader in New Mexico), and Anna May Wong (the first Chinese American Hollywood star). (U.S. Mint; Smithsonian Women’s History)

This historic moment not only embeds Angelou’s legacy into everyday currency, but also draws attention to the previously underrepresented presence of women — especially women of color — in the nation’s iconography. (The Guardian)

We can’t wait to see these quarters in our change — a small coin carrying a powerful symbol of progress.