Washington: The United States Mint, America’s coin mint, was awarded a major honor at the 32nd Mint Directors Conference (MDC) held in Cape Town, South Africa this week. The quarter coin dedicated to Jovita Idar was awarded the award in the category “Best Circulating Coin” or “Coin Series” under the American Women’s Quarter Program, issued in 2023.
Who was Jovita Idar?
Jovita Idar was the heroine in Mexican-American history and she was a journalist, teacher, nurse, activist, and a women’s rights advocate. She stood for change, and fought against all sorts of discriminations locally practiced in society and especially insisted on women’s rights to education and be given equal opportunities. His life was full of inspiration, and now his memory is being immortalized by this quarter coin.
Coin design and artistic expression
The design of this coin has been prepared by John P. McGraw, Medallic Artist of the United States Mint. This coin is the ninth coin in the American Woman Quarter program. On its reverse, Jovita Idar is depicted with folded hands, which shows her calm but strong ideology.
The words written inside his body reflect his life’s struggles and the organizations he supported. These words are:
Each word reflects some aspect of his life or his journalism and social contribution. In particular, the LA LIGA FEMENIL MEXICANISTA organization, which she founded to fight for women’s rights, is today the pride of history.
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MDC Awards and Global Recognition
The Mint Directors Conference (MDC) is an international forum where mint institutions from around the world come together to recognize excellence in areas such as the design, manufacture, packaging and distribution of coins. This year, the winners were selected by members of the Mint Directors Association from a total of 112 nominations.
The event was sponsored by MingFeng Packaging and took place during a spectacular gala dinner held at Cape Point Vineyards, South Africa.
History and Function of the United States Mint
The United States Mint was established by the US Congress in 1792. In the year 1873, it became part of the US Treasury Department. Today this institution is the country’s official coin manufacturing agency which creates legal tender for the entire United States, making trade and economic transactions possible in the country.
This mint manufactures the following products:
general circulation coins
Numamatic products such as:
- proof coin
- uncirculated coin
- commemorative coin
- Congressional Gold Medals
- silver and bronze medals
silver and gold bullion coins
All these products are kept in the category of self-sustaining products, due to which this institution does not impose any kind of burden on the taxpayers.
Overview of the American Women’s Coin Program
The American Women Quarters Program was launched in 2022. Its purpose is to honor great American women who have made historic contributions to their fields. In this program, quarter coins with pictures of 5 women are issued every year.
Including an influential personality like Jovita Idar in the program not only shows cultural dedication, but also honors America’s diverse history and the fight for equality.
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Global community response
This honor received by Jovita Idar Quarter has excited the entire coin collecting community. Not only in America, but coin collectors around the world are considering this coin as a historical achievement.
Experts believe that:
- This award is not just dedicated to a coin, but to the ideology that Jovita Idar lived.
Conclusion
The Jovita Idar Quarter is not an ordinary piece of metal, but a symbol of women power, journalism, education and social change. With this honor, the message is sent to America and the world that history can be lived not only in books, but also in coins.
FAQs
1. Who was Jovita Idar?
A. Jovita Idar was a Mexican-American journalist, teacher, nurse, and civil rights activist known for her advocacy for education, women’s rights, and Mexican-American rights in the early 20th century.
2. What is the Jovita Idar U.S. Quarter?
A. The Jovita Idar Quarter is the ninth coin in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program. It features a design honoring her life and legacy, highlighting her contributions to journalism, education, and civil rights.
3. Why was the Jovita Idar Quarter named the Best Circulating Coin of 2025?
A. It received this recognition at the 32nd Mint Directors Conference (MDC) in Cape Town, South Africa, for its impactful design, cultural representation, and artistic excellence among 112 global coin nominations.
4. What does the design of the coin represent?
A. The coin features Jovita Idar with her hands clasped, and includes inscriptions representing her roles as a teacher, nurse, activist, and journalist, as well as the newspapers and organizations she contributed to.
