Memorial area depicting pilgrims.
Source: United States Mint
The U.S. Mint on Wednesday unveiled a special quarter-dollar coin design to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, featuring pilgrims and former presidents rather than civil rights themes that have surfaced previously.
Designs considered ahead of next year’s anniversary included one focusing on abolitionist Frederick Douglass and an image depicting a woman suffragette holding a “Vote for Women” banner. Also on the list were several stories about Ruby Bridge, the first black student to integrate the school.
Instead, here are the five designs that the Mint ultimately decided to spotlight on the 25 cent coin.
The Pilgrims and the Mayflower George Washington and the Revolutionary War Thomas Jefferson and the Liberty Bell James Madison and the Independence Hall Abraham Lincoln and quotes from the Gettysburg Address
Christie McNally, deputy mint director, said in a press release that the selected designs “tell the story of America’s journey towards a ‘more perfect union’ and celebrate America’s defining ideals of freedom.”
“We want to give every American the opportunity to hold 250 years of our nation’s storied history in the palm of their hands,” McNally said.
Wednesday’s announcement follows some splashy moves around U.S. coins in recent months.
The U.S. Mint produced its last penny in November after more than 230 years, citing increased manufacturing costs and a decline in the use of physical cash due to the rise of electronic payment options.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Brandon Beach confirmed in October that the Treasury Department is considering minting a $1 coin with President Donald Trump on both sides to commemorate his 250th, or 500th, anniversary. The reverse side of the coin will feature an image similar to the one taken after President Trump’s assassination attempt last year.
A Treasury Department spokesperson told CNBC in October that the final design for the $1 coin has not yet been chosen. As of Thursday, the Mint’s list of nominees included three “head” side designs, all of which featured Trump.
