By Robyn Showanes
April 18, 2024
The U.S. Mint celebrated the Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink Quarter during an event in Washington, DC on April 17, 2024. The event was held in partnership with the National Women’s History Museum and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. The quarter honoring Patsy Takemoto Mink is the second release in 2024 and the 12th coin overall in the American Women Quarters™ (AWQ) Program.
The event took place in the Cannon Caucus Room in the Cannon House Office Building. Special guests included Wendy Mink, Patsy Mink’s daughter; the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Mazie K. Hirono, United States Senator from Hawaii; the Honorable Ed Case, Member, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Judy Chu, Member, U.S. House of Representatives; and the Honorable Jill Tokuda, Member, U.S. House of Representatives.
Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed the special celebration, which included formal remarks, a short film about Patsy Mink, a coin pour, and a panel discussion.
“We are hopeful at the United States Mint, that through our workforce that just loves doing this, that you will embrace the quarters, you will watch, you will share, you will educate, you will inform, you will motivate, you will inspire, you too will persevere, and just like Patsy Mink did, keep going and don’t give up,” said U.S. Mint Director, Ventris C. Gibson during her remarks. “Remember that Patsy’s sacrifice has benefited each of us, not only individually and collectively, but benefited us as a nation because Title IX still stands.”
Senator Hirono’s office was instrumental in planning and executing the event. During her remarks, Senator Hirono spoke about the importance of the Patsy Mink quarter. “I hope this quarter will serve as a similar reminder and motivator to women and girls, and men in our country, because equal right should be a matter of solid support from all of us…this quarter will be a reminder that the fight continues.”
Speaker Emerita, Nancy Pelosi, expressed her gratitude for being included in the quarter celebration. “It is a joy to see so many of you here to continue to pay tribute to Patsy Mink for so many reasons.”
Following the formal remarks, Director Gibson, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Wendy Mink, and Senator Hirono participated in a coin pour, a ceremonial way of introducing the coin to the public. The women emptied 2,000 Patsy Mink quarters into two lauhala baskets surrounded by leis, symbolic of Patsy Mink’s home state of Hawaii.
The program concluded with a panel discussion led by Erika L. Moritsugu, White House Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American/NHPI Liaison. Panelists included: Dr. Felicia Kornbluh, Professor of History and of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, University of Vermont Burlington and coauthor, Ensuring Poverty: Welfare Reform in Feminist Perspective; Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, National Women’s History Museum Scholars Advisory Council Member; Professor of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Irvine and Director of the Humanities Center; and co-author, Fierce and Fearless: Patsy Takemoto Mink, First Woman of Color in Congress; and Elizabeth A. Novara, Historian/American Women’s History Specialist, Library of Congress.
The Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first woman of color to serve in Congress. She fought for gender and racial equality, affordable childcare, and environmental protection. She is best known for championing Title IX, legislation which opened new opportunities to women in education and school sports.
The reverse of the Patsy Mink quarter was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Beth Zaiken and sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw. The coin was released into circulation on March 25, 2024.
Watch a recording of the event on YouTube.
See more Inside the Mint articles.