MADRID, Spain.- A photo is already circulating in the United States 25 cent coin that pays tributeIt is the legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz. This release, made by the United States Mint, marks a historic moment, making Celia Cruz the first Afro-Latina figure to be depicted on a U.S. coin.
The announcement was made this Thursday by the Embassy of the United States in Cubawhich stressed the importance of this recognition for both the Latin community and music fans around the world. In a tweet, the consular office wrote: “Great news for fans of Celia Cruz and Latin music! Limited edition coins with Celia Cruz’s image have already begun to circulate in the United States. It’s a historic milestone! Celia is the first Afro-Latina figure to appear on a U.S. coin.”
¡Gran noticia para los fans de Celia Cruz y la música latina! 🎉 Ya comenzaron a circular las monedas de edición limitada con la imagen de Celia Cruz en Estados Unidos.🌟¡Es un hito histórico! Celia es la primera figura afrolatina en aparecer en una moneda estadounidense. Su… pic.twitter.com/r9icu914Dv
— Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Cuba (@USEmbCuba) August 8, 2024
The coin, officially introduced last year, was described by the Mint as a tribute to “a Cuban-American singer, cultural icon, and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century.” Designed and sculpted by artist Phebe Hemphill, it was produced at the Philadelphia and Denver factories. It has a composition of 8.33% nickel and copper, a weight of 5.670 grams, and a diameter of 24.26 millimeters. On its reverse, it shows Celia Cruz with her characteristic smile and a striking rumba-style dress that captures her essence. In addition, it bears the famous expression “Celia Cruz.” “Sugar!”, which became his signature cry. The obverse features a portrait of George Washington, originally created by Laura Gardin Fraser to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first president of the United States.
The Celia Cruz coin is part of the American Women’s Quarters program, an initiative that honors women who have made significant contributions to the United States in fields such as the arts, science, civil rights, and humanities. This program, which began in 2022 and will continue through 2025, has previously recognized figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Maria Tallchief, and Anna May Wong. In 2024, four other notable women will be honored alongside Celia Cruz: Pauli Murray, a civil rights advocate; Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to serve as a congresswoman; Mary Edwards Walker, a surgeon and women’s rights advocate; and Zitkala-Sa, an educator and political activist.
Omer Pardillo-Cid, executor and last artistic representative of Cruz, said in an interview with The Country It took more than a year of deliberations before Celia was finally selected. “Before putting Celia in the nomination, they called me and asked for permission to agree to submit her name,” Pardillo-Cid explained. The process culminated in Cruz being chosen, not only for her influential musical career, but also for her generosity and dedication to charitable causes.
Pardillo-Cid also highlighted the importance of this recognition for Celia Cruz’s legacy, noting that the United States always valued her talent and contributions, despite not being her native country.Celia “She received the best of all recognitions from the United States, the one that her country, where she remains banned, did not give her,” he said. Although she was never able to return to Cuba, Cruz found in the United States a home that celebrated her talent and elevated her to the status of cultural icon. This tribute, now materialized in a coin, is a reminder of Celia Cruz’s global impact.
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