The writer and poet Maya Angelou and the astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, are the first women who will appear on a series of quarters to be issued by the U.S. Mint over the next four years. Each woman will be honored on the reverse, or tails, side of the coins, which will enter circulation in January as part of the American Women Quarters Program. The heads side of the coin will feature a new design of George Washington. Dr. Ride, who died at 61 in 2012, “would be so moved by this great honor,” her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, said in a statement, adding that “this tribute reflects Sally’s legacy not only as a trailblazing astronaut but also as a champion of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.”Billie Jean King, the trailblazing tennis champion, hailed the announcement as “a richly deserved honor for both.”

Source: New York Times May 09, 2021 20:26 UTC