USA 1/4 Dollar - Washington Quarter - Zitkala Sa - D Denver - 2024 I- / VZ+ / VZ-ST

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The American Women Quarters series celebrates a diverse group of remarkable American women who have made lasting contributions across various fields, such as suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, the humanities, science, space, and the arts. These women come from diverse ethnic, racial, and geographic backgrounds.

Zitkala-Ša, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a writer, composer, educator, and political activist who advocated for Native American rights and citizenship in the early 20th century. She strongly opposed the destruction of Indigenous culture through forced assimilation, as she was made to abandon her Native American customs and traditions in exchange for an education. Her advocacy played a pivotal role in the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted U.S. citizenship to American Indians while preserving their tribal affiliation.

The reverse (tails) side of the coin depicts Zitkala-Ša in traditional Yankton Sioux attire, holding a book that represents her work as an author and her successful activism for Native American rights. Behind her, a stylized sun symbolizes her involvement in The Sun Dance Opera, while a cardinal bird represents her name, which means “Red Bird.” Below the sun is a diamond pattern inspired by Yankton Sioux design. Inscriptions on this side include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "AUTHOR," "ACTIVIST," "COMPOSER," "25 CENTS," and "ZITKALA-ŠA."

The common obverse (heads) side features a portrait of George Washington, originally designed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser for the 1932 quarter, which commemorated the bicentennial of Washington’s birth. Inscriptions on this side are "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "2024."

Celebrate the courage and achievements of these extraordinary women who have brought about historic change by starting or adding to your collection of the new American Women Quarters!