¡Azúcar! The one and only Celia Cruz is gracing the U.S. quarter, depicting her dazzling smile with a mic in hand and her signature catchphrase. According to her estate, the coin has officially entered circulation, meaning that you can finally get your hands on one!
The Cuban-American icon — the first Afro Latina to appear on U.S. currency — is being honored as part of the Mint’s American Women Quarters Program. She joins four other influential American women who will also be celebrated with their own coins.
About Celia Cruz
Born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, Cruz became one of the 20th century’s most popular Latin artists, recording more than 80 albums, winning five Grammy Awards (in addition to a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy) and receiving the president’s National Medal of Arts among other accolades.
Before her passing in 2003, she formed a deep bond with Miami, a city that became a second home to a large community of Cuban exiles like herself. Although she never lived in the city, she had a public viewing at the historic Freedom Tower after her death, where tens of thousands of people paid their respects.
Coin details
Cruz is featured on the reverse side (“tails”) of the quarter, with ¡Azúcar!, inscribed along with her name. The “heads” side depicts a portrait of George Washington, originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark Washington’s 200th birthday. According to the U.S. Mint, the coin is made of Cupro-Nickel and weighs 5.670 grams.
About the American Women Quarters Program
Other women honorees for the 2024 coins alongside Cruz are:
- Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to serve in Congress.
- Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War-era surgeon and abolitionist.
- Pauli Murray, a poet, writer, activist, lawyer, and Episcopal priest, as well as an advocate for civil rights.
- Zitkala-Ša, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnie, who was a political activist for Native Americans’ rights.
The U.S. Mint created the American Women Quarters Program to feature women who have contributed to a variety of fields, including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space and the arts. It will be issuing five new designs every year through 2025 to honor “ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse individuals.”
Where to get Celia Cruz’s U.S. quarters
The quarters with Celia Cruz’s design are available for purchase on the U.S. Mint’s website in bags and roll sets. They’ll be available for a limited amount of time until the next honoree. Another way to get the quarter is through Leon Medical Centers, which will be giving away the coin in a commemorative packaging. Individuals can sign up on their website and pick up the coin in person.