American Women Quarters Series
Bessie Coleman Quarter
History, design, and collector guide
Bessie Coleman overview
Bessie Coleman was the first Black woman and first Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, earning it in France in 1921 after American flight schools refused to train her because of her race and gender. She returned to the United States and became a celebrated air show performer known for stunt flying.
Released January 3, 2023, her quarter opened the American Women Quarters Program’s second year and honors a career that inspired generations of Black and Native American aviators.
Design and specifications
The reverse shows Coleman in a leather flying helmet, looking toward a biplane in the clouds behind her, capturing the moment before takeoff.
- Reverse sculptor: Eric David Custer
- Reverse designer (Artistic Infusion Program): Chris Costello
- Release date: January 3, 2023
- 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): 302,000,000
- Denver (D): 317,200,000
- San Francisco proof (S): 500,360
- Total mintage: 619,700,360
At nearly 619.7 million coins, the Coleman quarter is among the highest mintage dates in the entire series, trailing only Edith Kanaka’ole for the most struck overall.
Why Bessie Coleman was chosen
Coleman was selected for overcoming both racial and gender barriers to become a licensed pilot, training in France after being turned away by every flight school she approached in the United States.
She spent the rest of her career performing in air shows and giving lectures encouraging Black Americans, and especially Black women, to pursue aviation, work that continued to inspire pilots long after her death in a 1926 flying accident.
Collecting the Bessie Coleman quarter
With nearly 620 million struck, circulated Coleman quarters are worth face value and are one of the easiest dates in the series to find in a roll or in pocket change.
Collectors after more than face value look to the silver proof version and top graded Mint State examples, though the high mintage keeps most premiums modest.
5 fun facts about the Bessie Coleman quarter
- Bessie Coleman was the first Black woman and first Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license, awarded in France in 1921.
- She learned French specifically to attend flight school in France after being rejected by American schools.
- Her quarter design was presented to the Federal Aviation Administration at a dedicated ceremony.
- With nearly 620 million struck, the Coleman quarter has one of the highest total mintages in the series.
- Coleman performed as a stunt pilot at air shows across the country before her death in 1926.
5 common FAQs about the Bessie Coleman quarter
- Is a Bessie Coleman quarter worth anything?
Circulated coins are worth face value. Nearly 620 million were struck, making it one of the most common dates in the series. - Why was Bessie Coleman chosen for a quarter?
She was honored as the first Black woman and first Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, and for inspiring generations of aviators. - Where did Bessie Coleman learn to fly?
She trained in France in 1921 after American flight schools refused to admit her because of her race and gender. - What is shown on the Bessie Coleman quarter?
Coleman is shown wearing a leather flying helmet, looking toward a biplane in the clouds. - When was the Bessie Coleman quarter released?
It entered circulation on January 3, 2023, opening the program’s second year.
3 quiz questions about the Bessie Coleman quarter
- Where did Bessie Coleman earn her pilot’s license?
A) The United States
B) France
C) Canada
D) England - What was Bessie Coleman’s historic distinction?
A) First woman airline captain
B) First Black and Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license
C) First female astronaut
D) First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic - About how many Bessie Coleman quarters were struck?
A) 100 million
B) 300 million
C) 620 million
D) 1.2 billion
Bessie Coleman Quarter, Takeaway
The Bessie Coleman quarter, released in January 2023, honors the first Black woman and first Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. With nearly 620 million struck, it is one of the most common dates in the series and worth face value in circulated condition.