Lady Liberty Will Be A Black Woman On U.S. Currency

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The U.S. Mint has announced that for the first time, Lady Liberty will be portrayed by a woman of color on U.S. currency.

Mariya Moseley Jan, 13, 2017

In light of the U.S. Mint’s 225th anniversary, the new $100 coin was unveiled yesterday, featuring Lady Liberty as a Black woman.

Treasury & Mint officials unveiled the 2017 American Liberty High Relief Gold Coin! https://t.co/HkfcPN5Enq #USMint225 @USTreasury pic.twitter.com/0ShGHPn5oF
— United States Mint (@usmint) January 12, 2017

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Since its inception, the Lady Liberty coin has always been depicted as a White woman – until the new design was recently unveiled. Justin Kunz, a designer with the Mint Artistic Infusion Program, designed the coin, while Mint Sculptor/Engraver Phebe Hemphill was responsible for sculpting it.

The coin is part of a commemorative set for the anniversary and will be the first in a series celebrating the cultural diversity of the nation. Future coins within the series will represent Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Indian Americans.

This announcement comes less than a year after The U.S. Treasury Department revealed that anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman will oust Andrew Jackson on the $20 note.