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The Jovita Idár quarter officially on Monday became the ninth coin in circulation as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Idár was a Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist.
She was born in 1885 in Laredo, Texas, and she wrote in-depth articles that championed for civil rights of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the early 20th century.
She worked for La Crónica, a Spanish-language newspaper that exposed racist violence against ethnic Mexicans in Texas. She also served as a nurse for La Cruz Blanca — a voluntary infirmary service — during the Mexican Revolution.
The @usmint's Jovita Idar quarter went into circulation today. Jovita is an often-overlooked South Texas hero who worked tirelessly for the rights of Mexican Americans & women in San Antonio & nationwide. It's important to share how her & other Latinos have shaped U.S. history. https://t.co/u9P1kKMT5L
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 14, 2023
The reverse of the coin features an image of Idár with her hands clasped and inscriptions detailing her accomplishments.
The American Women Quarters program began in 2022 and will continue through 2025 to honor the accomplishments and contributions made by women in the U.S.
The five quarters in this year's class honor Idár, African American aviator Bessie Coleman, Hawaiian educator Edith Kanaka'ole, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the first Native American prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief.
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