The United States unveiled designs for the second-year coins from their four-year series of American Women quarter dollars. Authorized under Public Law 116-330, the program of quarters has reverses (tails side) honoring the accomplishments of women who helped shaped American history.
There will be five unique designs every year from 2022 through 2025. Designs for 2023 recognize the achievements of Bessie Coleman, Edith Kanaka’ole, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar, and Maria Tallchief.
"I am pleased to announce the designs of the 2023 American Women Quarters," said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. "These beautiful designs honor the achievements of these amazing women and add to the Mint’s rich history of rendering the history of our Nation in enduring examples of numismatic art."
U.S. Mint-published line art images and descriptions of the five quarter designs follow.
Bessie Coleman – first African American and first Native American woman pilot
Designer: Chris Costello, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Eric David Custer, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts Bessie Coleman as she suits up in preparation for flight, her expression reflective of her determination to take to the skies, the only place she experienced a freedom she did not have on the ground. The inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "BESSIE COLEMAN," and "6.15.1921," the date Coleman received her pilot’s license.
Edith Kanaka’ole – indigenous Hawaiian composer, custodian of native culture and traditions
Designer: Emily Damstra, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Edith Kanaka’ole, with her hair and lei po’o (head lei) morphing into the elements of a Hawaiian landscape, symbolizing Kanaka’ole’s life’s work of preserving the natural land and traditional Hawaiian culture. The inscription "E hō mai ka ‘ike" translates as "granting the wisdom," and is a reference to the intertwined role hula and chants play in this preservation. Additional inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "25¢," and "EDITH KANAKA’OLE."
Eleanor Roosevelt – first lady, author, and civil liberties advocate
Designer: Don Everhart, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt and the scales of justice against a backdrop representing the globe, symbolic of her impactful work with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES of AMERICA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "ELEANOR ROOSEVELT," and "UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS."
Jovita Idar – Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist
Designer: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
Sculptor: John P. McGraw, United States Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts a portrait of Jovita Idar with her hands clasped. Within her body are inscriptions representing some of her greatest accomplishments and the newspapers for which she wrote. The text includes the inscriptions "MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS," "TEACHER," "JOVITA IDAR," "NURSE," "EVOLUCIÓN," "ASTREA," "EL HERALDO CRISTIANO," "LA CRUZ BLANCA," "JOURNALIST," "LA CRÓNICA," "EL PROGRESO," and "LA LIGA FEMENIL MEXICANISTA," as well as "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
Maria Tallchief – America’s first prima ballerina
Designer: Ben Sowards, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, United States Mint Chief Engraver
This design depicts Maria Tallchief spotlit in balletic pose, and her Osage name, which translates to "Two Standards," written in Osage orthography. Additional inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "QUARTER DOLLAR," and "MARIA TALLCHIEF."
Common Obverse Design
The obverse (heads side) design is common across all quarters in the four-year series. It features a portrait of George Washington and was originally created by artist Laura Gardin Fraser to mark Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932.
Inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "2022."
Release dates for U.S. Mint 2023 quarter products should become available later this year.
Quarters for 2202 honor Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong.
I believe the 2023 Native American Dollar will also honor Maria Tallchief. I’m enjoying the original Washington obverse. Although these quarters (for 2022) aren’t common yet, I have faith that by the end of their issuance, they’ll be more common place.
You, Major D, have good taste.
just received an e-mail from the mint – enrollment for the quarters is open, it had been closed, so either they are going to increase the available limit or enough other people have dropped out. I was interested in the S quarter.
ok, I see the enrollment has actually dropped from 7620 to 7504, but I did get confirmation I am enrolled
Tom,
Congratulations on getting into the Mint’s Enrollment Program!
I called Mint Customer Service, Major D, and apparently the website is one again experiencing some glitches. This might explain the strange quantity you saw, and then just a few hours ago the #NE registered at 0 as in “sold out.”
Also, my enrollment for the next AWQ Three Roll Sets had temporarily disappeared but the rep insisted that the Mint’s records show me as being on track to receive two Sets. By gosh and by golly, this is a bit of a wacky business.
when I enrolled for the 3 roll set the other day it was limited to one set only. Nothing showed under enrollments for anything yesterday, today everything shows, so they fixed their issues.
Major D,
I’m lost on this one. While I do find the same HOL/enrollment limit of 3, I get a big fat 0 (zero) when I do the data-available for the Anna May Wong 3 Roll AWQ Sets.
Tom,
When you say that on the enrollment page “everything shows”, does the line item for your Anna May Wong AWQ Three Roll Set Enrollment indicate Oct.25 or TBD?
All the enrollments I have say TBD. Major D – when I went to pay for my enrollment there was a message Order limit = 1 for enrollment. so, though it says elsewhere enrollment limit of 3, I guess that would be if you ordered w/o enrollment, and that is going to be impossible since there are limited rolls available and many of those are enrollments. Months ago I clicked on ‘remind me’ on the 3 roll set, and that must be why I received an email they were available. I am assuming I will be able to get the… Read more »
Tom,
My Enrollments all say TBD also, so unless that is a temporary system glitch the sad fact is that you and Major D and I are all frozen out of the upcoming release of the Anna May Wong 3 Roll Set. As to whether we are enrolled for next year’s AWQs, at this point that’s anybody’s guess. Personally, I wouldn’t count on it.
I hope we’re both Wong in this regard, Major D, but that may be a forlorn hope this time around. I believe I mentioned in a previous comment that a rep at the Mint’s customer service told me not to worry because I was “definitely enrolled for the Anna May Wong 3 Roll Set”, but from experience I would say that reassurance and a few bucks will get me a cheap cup of java.
Major D,
It’s beginning to look like there’s a lot more Wong than that. I’ve gotten the three previous AWQs’ 3 Roll Sets (just missed out on the Maya Angelou) and now all of a sudden it says TBD for Anna May Wong on my Enrollment Page. I don’t understand this at all.
we shall see in another month or so. the picture for signing up for the enrollment shows Amy Wong so I’d hold that is in favor for receiving that quarter.
The ‘next year’ dollars has the following for ‘data available’
Morgan Unc 166,011
Peace Unc 168,950
Morgan Proof 273,220
Peace Proof 281,240
2 coin reverse 132,959
looks like people don’t like the Peace dollar as much (slightly), and prefer the proof over the uncirculated, and are gung ho onto the 2 coin set
Many thanks for providing all of that information, Tom. I get the impression that these projected offerings will generate not only a lot of interest but also quite a bit of ongoing conversation, that is, right up until the day the Mint announces the program’s cancellation for the year. Honestly, I really hope I’m just an ordinary kidder and not an accurate prognosticator, because that would be a bummer.
And that, Antonio, is a first, with one individual being honored simultaneously on both a coin series and on an annual single coin release. What a terrific tribute, not to mention another great chance to acquire a rather unique numismatic offering.
I intend to purchase the silver proofs (AWQ) but I’m not interested in a ballerina, Native American or otherwise. It’ll only be the silvers for me. Same with the Morgan, Peace and ASEs. My appetite will be meted for the year (2023).
It’s neither here nor there for me as far as ballerinas per se go, Antonio. The significant point is the unique occurrence of one individual being part of two distinct coin series, AWQs and Native American Dollars, in the very same year. That’s the kind of special event that gets my numismatic juices flowing!
The last couple of decades have been good for the Quarter Collectors of America, Major D. These have been quite affordable and very attractive coins with a large and loyal following and as such seem to be maintaining both interest and value.
2021 Washington crossing quarter should have been a 5 oz. also.
I’d be torn about that one, ALM, although on the surface and as such it sounds like a wonderful idea. I don’t, however, think I could stomach actually seeing another silver 5-oz. coin with a three inch diameter end up with a value of 25 CENTS stamped on it. It’s an absolutely ludicrous practice of the Mint to not just insist on but to actually persist in employing that practice!
OK so the jovita idar design is probably the most unusual, given the way that the legally required phrases “quarter dollar’, “united states of america” and “e pluribus unum” are all incorporated directly into the design, rather than occupying empty spaces around it as is usual. I’m not 100% sure I like it, but it is definitely different, and could perhaps start a trend for future designs.
I hadn’t warmed to it right away, c_q, but after you having provided such an awesome description of it I’ve already changed my mind; it’s actually a brilliant design!
I want a roll of them. Maybe two so I can give some away.
I would highly recommend that, Antonio. For some reason, I believe the “S” version of that particular AWQ is going to go right through the roof.
That is a huge number of useful and fascinating facts and figures, Major D; many thanks for every bit of it!
I’m very intrigued by the comparison you present of the possible future values of the “S” Uncirculated AWQs and actual current prices of the “W” Circulated ATB Quarters.
If a Roll of the latter currently goes for anywhere from $400 to $1000, could that by any chance imply that Rolls of the former could eventually sell for at least as much if not even considerably more?
As always, Major D, you’ve come through with an exceedingly comprehension explanation of the ins and outs of yet another interesting situation; thank you for the time and effort! I suppose the very low mintages of these latest “S” AWQs should work to their benefit as far as giving them a bit of a leg up scarcity-wise when compared to the “W” ATB Quarters. Another factor that favors the “S” American Women Quarters is that they are not only arriving in pristine condition due to their being wrapped in paper rolls but also (and perhaps this is even more important… Read more »
I found a 2018-S Block Island quarter in my change the other day. It was in nice shape. Still have not seen any of the W quarters. I have found about 3 of the one year only Washington quarters so far. I also have found around 3 of the AWQs. Found my first Maya Angelou less than a week ago.
Jeff Legan,
If there was an award for the greatest number of “least expected quarters from circulation” you’d be the first to receive it.
There needs to be a W-uncirculated as well.
I agree, Antonio, and if that did happen I might at long last be able to find the very first “W” Quarter of my circulating coin hunt, just maybe.
I look forward to receiving the fifth set of P,D,S rolls. Fortunately, I enrolled in the P,D,S sets. My initial plan was to only own the first five sets, but after looks at the 2023 coins, I may not cancel my subscription.
I’d like to know how I can get 2023 Quarter