The late poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, becomes first African American woman to appear on a US quarter dollar coin.
The United States Mint has begun circulation of coins featuring the late poet Maya Angelou — the first African American woman to appear on the US quarter dollar coin.
As an author and civil rights activist, Angelou is the first in a group of women who will appear on the US currency as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto — the Senate sponsor of legislation directing the mint to issue the quarters honouring women — applauded the mint's selection of Angelou for the first coin.