American Women Quarters Series
Anna May Wong Quarter
History, design, and collector guide
Anna May Wong overview
Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, building a career across silent films, early talkies, and international productions during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s despite facing significant racial typecasting and discrimination in the American film industry.
Released October 25, 2022 as the final coin of the program’s inaugural year, Wong’s quarter made her the first Asian American honored on U.S. currency.
Design and specifications
The reverse shows Wong surrounded by theater marquee lights, a nod to her decades long career on screen and stage.
- Reverse sculptor: John P. McGraw
- Reverse designer (Artistic Infusion Program): Emily Damstra
- Release date: October 25, 2022
- Composition (standard clad): 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
- Composition (silver proof): 99.9% silver
- Diameter: 24.26 mm, edge: 119 reeds
- Obverse: George Washington, designed by Laura Gardin Fraser
Mintage figures
Mintage by mint, all figures from official U.S. Mint production reports.
- Philadelphia (no mintmark): 226,800,000
- Denver (D): 240,800,000
- San Francisco proof (S): 303,680
- Total mintage: 467,903,680
At roughly 467.9 million coins, the Wong quarter falls in the middle of the 2022 releases, higher than Otero-Warren but lower than Angelou, Ride, and Mankiller.
Why Anna May Wong was chosen
Wong was chosen for breaking barriers as the first Chinese American film star, working steadily in an industry that offered few roles to Asian American actors and frequently relegated them to stereotyped parts.
She built an international career across the United States and Europe, and later became a vocal advocate for better, more accurate representation of Asian and Asian American characters in film.
Collecting the Anna May Wong quarter
Circulated Wong quarters are worth face value, with nearly 468 million struck across both circulating mints.
As with the rest of the 2022 lineup, the silver proof set and top graded Mint State coins are the versions collectors pay above face value for, mostly for set completion rather than scarcity.
5 fun facts about the Anna May Wong quarter
- Anna May Wong is the first Asian American honored on U.S. currency.
- She began her film career in the silent era and worked steadily through the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
- Her quarter closed out the American Women Quarters Program’s first year, released October 25, 2022.
- The design shows her surrounded by theater marquee lights, referencing her career on stage and screen.
- Wong later became an advocate for better representation of Asian American actors in Hollywood.
5 common FAQs about the Anna May Wong quarter
- Is an Anna May Wong quarter worth anything?
Circulated coins are worth face value. Nearly 468 million were struck across Philadelphia and Denver. - Why was Anna May Wong chosen for a quarter?
She was honored as the first Chinese American film star and the first Asian American featured on U.S. currency. - What is shown on the Anna May Wong quarter?
Wong is shown surrounded by theater marquee lights, referencing her long career in film. - When was the Anna May Wong quarter released?
It entered circulation on October 25, 2022, the fifth and final coin of the program’s first year. - Was Anna May Wong the first Asian American actress in Hollywood?
She was the first Chinese American film star specifically, building a career across silent film and early sound pictures starting in the 1920s.
3 quiz questions about the Anna May Wong quarter
- What is Anna May Wong’s historic distinction on U.S. currency?
A) First Native Hawaiian
B) First Asian American
C) First Afro-Latina
D) First Hispanic American - What imagery surrounds Wong on the coin’s reverse?
A) Film reels
B) Theater marquee lights
C) A movie camera
D) Stage curtains - Which quarter closed out the 2022 lineup?
A) Wilma Mankiller
B) Nina Otero-Warren
C) Anna May Wong
D) Sally Ride
Anna May Wong Quarter, Takeaway
The Anna May Wong quarter, released in October 2022, closed out the program’s first year and made her the first Asian American honored on U.S. currency. With nearly 468 million struck, circulated coins are common and worth face value, leaving the silver proof set as the main option for collectors.