Actress Anna May Wong is set to be the first Asian American to be featured on U.S. currency.
The U.S. Mint announced that they will feature Asian American actress Anna May Wong on special quarters starting on Oct. 24. This makes Wong the first Asian American to be featured on U.S. currency. More than 300 million of these special quarters will be put out for circulation.
Wong was one of the first Chinese American stars in Hollywood. She starred in over 60 films including “Shanghai Express,” “Piccadilly” and “Daughter of the Dragon,” etc. She was also known as a fashion icon for combining traditional Chinese fashion with the popular flapper style fashion at the time. Throughout her career, Wong dealt with racism, xenophobia, yellowface and pay disparities. She also dealt with miscegenation laws, which prohibited interracial relationships and marriages, but also affected on-screen relationships with Wong often not being able to star opposite white actors. Despite this, Wong remained an advocate for increasing Asian representation on the big screen and went on to have a successful career. In 1960, Wong was the first Asian American women to be awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Ventris C. Gibson, Director of the U.S. Mint, expressed how Wong was “a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multidimensional roles for Asian American actors” and that “this quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments by Anna May Wong, who overcame challenges and obstacles she faced during her lifetime.”
Wong being placed on U.S. currency is part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, which celebrates five trailblazing women in various industries by featuring them on U.S. currency. Every year from 2022 to 2025, the U.S. Mint will announce five women they will include on special quarters for that year.
In 2022, the U.S. Mint printed quarters highlighting Maya Angelou, writer and social activist, in January; Dr. Sally Ride, the first woman and youngest American to go into space, in March; Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to be elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation and a Native American activist, in June; and Adelina “Nina” Otero-Warren, the first female school superintendent of public schools in the Santa Fe district, the first Hispanic woman to run for Congress and leader of New Mexico’s suffrage movement, particularly for Hispanic and Latin American communities, in August.
Alison L. Doone, previous Acting Director of the U.S. Mint said, “These inspiring coin designs tell the stories of five extraordinary women whose contributions are indelibly etched in American culture. Generations to come will look at coins bearing these designs and be reminded of what can be accomplished with vision, determination and a desire to improve opportunities for all.”
Wong’s inclusion on U.S. currency brings to light her successful works, despite the numerous challenges she faced at the time. It is an amazing feat for the Asian community in the country. The U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program in general, celebrates trailblazing women’s achievements and places a much-deserved spotlight on them through special quarters featuring these icons. So be sure to check your change to see if you have any of these special edition quarters!