It is an exciting day for those who love science and numismatists in general as the Dr. Vera Rubin Quarter enters into circulation nationwide. The quarter is the newest offering of the U.S. Mint's historic American Women Quarters Program, which honors the achievements and legacy of pioneering women whose efforts have had significant roles in American history.
Dr. Vera Rubin (commonly known in some contexts as Maria Vera, despite the fact that her full name was Vera Florence Cooper Rubin) was a trailblazing astronomer who presented conclusive evidence in favor of the existence of dark matter. Her accurate measurement of galaxy rotation curves showed galaxies spinning at much higher speeds than visible material in them could explain, and thus inferred unseen mass, now known as dark matter. Her discoveries changed the face of what we know about the universe and paved the way for modern cosmology.
The Dr. Vera Rubin Quarter's tails side (reverse) design appropriately represents her scientific heritage. It has a portrait of Dr. Rubin with her head raised upwards, encompassed by a spiral galaxy and other stars, representing her deep thinking about the universe. The inscriptions are "DR. VERA RUBIN," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." "DARK MATTER" is also subtly incorporated in the design as a tribute to her most notable finding. The reverse (tails side) of every American Women Quarter features a new portrait of George Washington, the original having been designed by Laura Gardin Fraser.
This coin is replacing other remarkable women in the American Women Quarters Program. Earlier releases have celebrated women who had contributed significantly, including the Maya Angelou Quarter 2022 P and the Wilma Mankiller Quarter, among others. These coins are small avowals, allowing the history of these remarkable women to reach millions of Americans in the form of ordinary commerce.
The American Women Quarters Program, established in 2022, is a multi-year program. Five new quarters are issued each year through 2025. Each coin celebrates the various accomplishments of women in science, civil rights, art, and more. The program is intended to encourage future generations by bringing attention to the accomplishments of these all-too-often forgotten heroes.
For numismatists, the Dr. Vera Rubin Quarter minting is an eagerly awaited activity. Even though these quarters are struck for general circulation, there are collectors who look to acquire uncirculated or proof issues to keep in their collections. The US Mint strikes these coins at different facilities, such as Philadelphia ("P" mint mark) and Denver ("D" mint mark), and occasionally San Francisco ("S" mint mark) for collector issues.
The distribution of such coins is not only enriching numismatic collections but also an invaluable teaching tool, creating public awareness of the profound impact made by individuals such as Dr. Vera Rubin. It spurs greater respect for scientific inquiry and for the various geniuses who have built our country.
BOLD Precious Metals appreciates the cultural and historical value of these U.S. Mint pieces. Although our focus is on bullion, we recognize the wider appeal of collectible coins and their stories.
For more news and perspective on the precious metals and U.S. coin world, see BOLD Precious Metals.
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