In a tribute to the iconic civil rights activist and poet Maua Angelou, the U.S. Mint has started shipping quarters featuring her this week.
The coins are part of the series in the American Women Quarters Program. Maya Angelou, featured on the reverse of this first coin in the series, used words to inspire and uplift, the US Mint said.
The quarters honoring Maya Angelou make her the first African American woman to feature on the coins, which are manufactured at the Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver. Coins featuring additional honorees will begin shipping later this year and through 2025.
A part of the Civil Rights Movement, Angelou became a prolific writer and is a widely respected poet. She was also a, performer, social activist, and teacher,
Angelou gained international fame for her commitment to rights,
Her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is considered a great milestone in African American literature.
Announcing the arrival of the Maya Angelou featured coins, the US Mint spotlighted her career encompassing dance, theater, journalism, and social activism.
She was the recipient of more than 30 honorary degrees, Angelou read “On the Pulse of Morning” at the 1992 inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
Angelou’s reading marked the first time an African American woman wrote and presented a poem at a Presidential inauguration. In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and she was the 2013 recipient of the Literarian Award, an honorary National Book Award for contributions to the literary community, a news release said.
“Maya Angelou’s writing and activism inspired countless Americans and her legacy helped fuel greater fairness and understanding across our nation,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Senate sponsor of the bill.
“She is exactly the type of leader I had in mind when Senator Fischer, Representative Lee, and I wrote our bipartisan legislation to create a series of quarters honoring the contributions of American women. This coin will ensure generations of Americans learn about Maya Angelou’s books and poetry that spoke to the lived experience of Black women.”
“As a leader in the civil rights movement, poet laureate, college professor, Broadway actress, dancer, and the first female African American cable car conductor in San Francisco, Maya Angelou’s brilliance and artistry inspired generations of Americans,” said Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), House sponsor of the bill. “I will forever cherish the private moments I had the privilege to share with Maya, from talking in her living room as sisters to her invaluable counsel throughout the challenges I faced as a Black woman in elected office. I am proud to have led this effort to honor these phenomenal women, who more often than not are overlooked in our country’s telling of history. If you find yourself holding a Maya Angelou quarter, may you be reminded of her words, ‘be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.’”
