Lady Liberty, traditionally depicted as a white woman of European descent, will be portrayed as an African American woman on a new commemorative gold coin from the US Mint. The coin will have a face value of $100 USD and mark the 225th anniversary of the Mint’s coin production history. The series will also feature depictions of Lady Liberty as an Asian-American, Spanish-American, and Indian-American woman.
Lady Liberty is one of America’s most enduring symbols. The best-known depiction of her is in New York Harbor, a statuary gift from France in 1886, but her origins probably date back a century earlier. In the 1700s, “Columbia,” as she was known, represented freedom for the United States in her formative years — and she has always been depicted as a white woman of European descent. However, in April 2017, Lady Liberty will be depicted as an African American woman for the first time on a new commemorative gold coin available from the United States Mint. The coin will have a face value of $100 USD and mark the 225th anniversary of the Mint’s coin production history. But don’t expect to see coins in general circulation—they’re typically only of interest to collectors.
The first in a series of new women:
The 24-karat gold coins will each weigh approximately one ounce (28g). Depending on the value of gold, which was more than $1,000 USD an ounce in early 2017, they will sell for much more than face value.
The obverse of the coin shows a profile of Lady Liberty with a crown of stars holding back her hair. The reverse shows a flying eagle.
Future coins in the series will variously depict Lady Liberty as an Asian-American, Spanish-American, and Indian-American woman, “to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States,” the Mint said.
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