Women’s suffragist, investigative journalist and civil rights leader Ida B. Wells is now immortalized as part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program.

The Chicago icon is in good company. The 2025 coin circulation includes Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, astronomer Vera Rubin, disability justice advocate Stacey Park Milbern and tennis star Althea Gibson.

Ida B. Wells quarter. (Courtesy of U.S. Mint)

Wells is one of the 20 feminist heroes honored in the coin collection, celebrating the contribution of women in the United States.

“Other countries have women on their currency,” said Dan Duster, Wells’ great-grandson. “The U.S. is in the minority for not doing that, so we appreciate that that’s catching up.”

The American Women Quarters Program began in 2022, releasing five quarters each year since.

This year will conclude the program.

“Women in general — Black women in particular — have been undervalued or erased from history,” Duster said. “To allow her story to be told and inspire so many other African American young women to be courageous and speak your mind and fight for what’s right is important.”

Wells’ quarter is in circulation now.

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