Maya Angelou: first Black woman on US coin

History is made on US quarter - 31st January 2022

Maya Angelou will feature on a new US quarter dollar coin. This move to honour her memory also adds to her place in history. She's the first Black woman to appear on the coin.

The 89 year old poet and activist, who died in 2014, first became famous in 1969 with her book 'I know why the caged bird sings'. It told the story of her childhood in the segregated society of America's southern states.

Angelou produced over 30 successful books over her career. She received many honorary degrees from universities, and President Clinton asked her to perform one of her poems at his 1993 inauguration ceremony. Then in 2010, President Obama awarded Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest US civilian honour.

The new quarter references Angelou's life and literary themes. She's standing with her arms stretched out in front of a bright rising sun, while a bird flies high behind her.

Women rarely appear on US currency. However, now a woman is US Treasury Secretary for the first time, change is coming. Secretary Janet Yellen stated of currency design: "we have the chance to say something about our country – what we value".

Quarters are planned for other American women too. The first US woman astronaut, Sally Ride, and the first Cherokee woman chief, Wilma Mankiller, will both feature on new coins. As will Anna May Wong, Hollywood's first Chinese American movie star.

There had been plans for anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman to appear on the 20 dollar bill. However, these were cancelled by President Trump. But with Biden and Yellen in office, plans for women on banknotes are back.