Maya Angelou will be one of the first American women to appear on a quarter, the New York Times reports.
Angelou, the legendary poet and author of the memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, will be depicted on the reverse side of the coin in January 2022, as part of the U.S. Mint’s new American Women Quarters program. The obverse side will still feature an image of George Washington.
There will be seven different versions of the Angelou quarter, ABC News reports. One will depict Angelou holding a birdcage and a blackbird, while others will feature more abstract designs inspired by I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Angelou is one of the first two women who will be honored through the American Women Quarters program, along with astronaut Sally Ride.
The program was established as a result of the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, introduced by California Rep. Barbara Lee.
“For too long, many of the women who have contributed to our country’s history have gone unrecognized, especially women of color,” Lee said in a statement. “I am pleased to see that the first women to be recognized under my bill are outstanding individuals in the fields of science and literature: Dr. Sally Ride and Dr. Maya Angelou. They paved the way for many who came after them and inspired young women to carry on their legacy.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
