2022 marked an exciting development for coin collectors and history enthusiasts alike with the release of the first five American Women Quarters. These special 25-cent pieces launched a four-year program celebrating the accomplishments of 20 notable women who have made significant contributions to the development and history of the United States.
For collectors eager to secure a complete set of these trailblazing quarters, it‘s helpful to understand the program‘s rollout, each coin‘s specifications and availability, and how their designs honor the legacy of some of America‘s most inspiring women. In this expert guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to collect a pristine set of the 2022 quarters and even offer some tips for spotting potentially valuable error coins along the way.
Program Overview and 2022 Honorees
Authorized by Congress in 2020, the American Women Quarters Program showcases five new reverse designs each year from 2022 through 2025, while the obverse continues to depict a portrait of George Washington originally created by sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser as a candidate design for the 1932 quarter.
The five extraordinary women celebrated in the 2022 inaugural run represent a diverse range of backgrounds and achievements:
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Maya Angelou – With a body of work spanning over 50 years, Angelou was one of the most influential voices in 20th century literature as a poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Her quarter design depicts her with outstretched arms in front of a bird in flight and rising sun.
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Dr. Sally Ride – A pioneering physicist and NASA astronaut, Ride became the first American woman to reach space in 1983. After retiring from NASA, she dedicated her career to inspiring young people, especially girls, to pursue interests in science and technology. Her quarter shows her next to a window on the space shuttle.
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Wilma Mankiller – As the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1987, Mankiller spearheaded vital infrastructure and social projects that transformed the tribe‘s communities in northeast Oklahoma. Her quarter features a portrait of Mankiller gazing ahead in traditional dress with the seven-pointed star of the Cherokee Nation.
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Nina Otero-Warren – A leader in New Mexico‘s suffrage movement, Otero-Warren also became the first Hispanic woman to serve as the superintendent of Santa Fe public schools in 1917, implementing a pioneering bilingual and bicultural curriculum. The Otero-Warren quarter depicts her profile alongside three Yucca blossoms.
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Anna May Wong – Considered the first Chinese American movie star in Hollywood, Wong acted in over 60 films throughout her career while fighting against stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters. Her quarter shows a close-up of Wong‘s face with the lights of a marquee sign in the background.
Coin Specifications and Mintage Details
All American Women Quarters issued for circulation have the same specifications as the standard Washington quarter. Each coin contains a clad composition of 8.33% nickel with the remainder copper, weighs 5.67 grams, and has a diameter of 0.955 inches (24.26 mm). They are being produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints.
Coins minted in Philadelphia feature a ‘P‘ mint mark while those from Denver have a ‘D‘ mark. The San Francisco Mint produces coins with an ‘S‘ mark but only for special proof sets made for collectors, not for general circulation. All three mints also strike uncirculated versions for coin sets and other collector products.
Here are the confirmed mintages and release dates for the circulation quality strikes of each 2022 Women‘s Quarter, with the first number representing the Philadelphia Mint and the second representing the Denver Mint:
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Maya Angelou – Released January 3, 2022
P: 343,920,000 | D: 204,000,000 -
Dr. Sally Ride – Released March 21, 2022
P: 218,400,000 | D: 210,800,000 -
Wilma Mankiller – Released June 13, 2022
P: 175,200,000 | D: 155,600,000 -
Nina Otero-Warren – Released August 15, 2022
P: 239,700,000 | D: 249,600,000 -
Anna May Wong – Released October 24, 2022
P: 195,000,000 | D: 171,000,000
It‘s worth noting that the Philadelphia Mint tends to produce more coins for circulation than Denver. Therefore, the Denver Mint coins could potentially have lower mintages and be less commonly encountered in change.
Tips for Building a Collection
For collectors looking to assemble a complete set of the highest quality examples of each American Women Quarter, there are a few things to keep in mind. When sorting through coins, inspect them closely for signs of wear or blemishes. Quarters showing little to no wear are more desirable for a pristine collection.
Look for well-centered, strongly struck designs with full details, attractive toning, and minimal marks or bag abrasions. High-quality coins are best preserved in archival albums or holders specifically designed for quarter storage to ensure their condition remains stable. Proper storage also makes for an attractive display as the collection grows.
It‘s difficult to predict the long-term collector value of uncirculated business strike quarters pulled from circulation, as these coins are generally minted in large quantities. However, the unique designs, important subjects, and landmark nature of the American Women Quarters Program suggest these coins may have strong appeal with collectors.
Quarters with lower mintages or first-year-of-issue status like the 2022 coins tend to be more sought-after. Collector demand also often favors coins depicting more widely known figures, so the Maya Angelou and Sally Ride quarters may end up being especially desirable. Only time will tell as we observe the market for these coins in the coming years.
Collectible Error Coins
Sharp-eyed collectors may want to be on the lookout for error coins as well. While uncommon, quarters with striking errors have the potential for higher value than normal examples.
Some types of errors to watch for include off-center strikes, double strikes, and defective or clipped planchets. With the special designs and multiple striking facilities, there‘s a chance some 2022 Women Quarters could have noteworthy errors.
Given the higher production and multiple striking facilities, the Maya Angelou quarter seems to have a few interesting errors already reported, like misaligned die errors and struck through grease filled dies resulting in attenuated design details. Happy hunting!
A Closer Look at 2022‘s Honorees
The sheer cultural impact and historical significance of the women celebrated in these 2022 quarters cannot be overstated. While their accomplishments are impressive enough as inscribed on these coins, diving deeper into each figure‘s life reveals just how richly their legacies have shaped the course of the nation.
Maya Angelou‘s early career as a civil rights activist saw her collaborate with giants like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She would go on to write staggeringly influential works that have made her one of the most acclaimed authors in American history. Angelou is also often cited as an influence on hip-hop, having been featured on a Grammy-winning album by Common.
Before her famed career at NASA, Dr. Sally Ride was a nationally ranked youth tennis player. She was even encouraged by tennis legend Billie Jean King to pursue the sport professionally before deciding that science was her true calling.
As a child, Wilma Mankiller and her family were relocated from their Cherokee tribal lands in Oklahoma to San Francisco as part of a Bureau of Indian Affairs program. Though difficult, this displacement would ultimately inspire Mankiller‘s activism on behalf of Native American rights.
Nina Otero-Warren received a prestigious education from Maryville College of the Sacred Heart outside of St. Louis, an experience that made her an advocate for improved educational opportunities back in her native New Mexico.
In Hollywood, Anna May Wong routinely combatted racism and stereotyping. She was passed over for the lead role in the film The Good Earth because of anti-miscegenation rules restricting her from sharing an on-screen kiss with a white actor. Frustrated by a lack of meaningful roles, Wong left for Europe where she found greater success in English, French, and German films.
Looking Forward
The selection process for the next batch of American women to be honored in 2023 is already underway. The public had the opportunity to submit candidate nominations online through the National Women‘s History Museum, which will work with the U.S. Mint to narrow down design concepts.
If the 2022 quarters are any indication, we can expect another diverse slate of pioneering women from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and historical eras for 2023. It will be exciting to see what the next rounds of the program have in store.
The relative scarcity and popularity of the 2022 issues may well influence how in-demand future years of the series are with collectors. If certain 2022 coins like the Maya Angelou or Sally Ride quarters emerge as clear collector favorites, it could drive enthusiasm for subsequent releases.
Closing Thoughts
The American Women Quarters Program offers collectors the unique opportunity to hold history in their hands while assembling a valuable and culturally significant set of coins. Even as we appreciate the women honored in 2022 for their remarkable lives and legacies, these quarters remind us that the fabric of the nation‘s history was woven just as much by the contributions of women as men.
What makes the 2022 set such an appealing collector‘s item is the combination of important subjects, trailblazing honorees, inspired designs, and inaugural year status. Whether you‘re looking to collect a set of pristine uncirculated examples, chase down exciting errors and varieties, or simply carry a piece of history in your pocket, the American Women Quarters are sure to generate enthusiasm for years to come.
Above all, this groundbreaking series reaffirms a fundamental numismatic truth: that so much of coin collecting‘s enduring appeal lies in the way it connects us to the past. Tracing our fingers over the portraits of these great American women, we are reminded of the stories and dreamers behind every coin, the history living in every turn of phrase and inspiration to be found in every face—on the coins in our hands and the people who carry them.
