2024 American Women Quarters Program,Patsy Takemoto Mink, D Mint

Own this American Women Quarters Program coin honoring Patsy Takemoto Mink –
The First Woman of Color to Serve in Congress

This quarter was issued in 2024 as part of the first series of US coins to honor the achievements of women. The reverse design on this quarter features an image of Patsy Takemoto Mink holding the TITLE...  more

Own this American Women Quarters Program coin honoring Patsy Takemoto Mink –
The First Woman of Color to Serve in Congress

This quarter was issued in 2024 as part of the first series of US coins to honor the achievements of women. The reverse design on this quarter features an image of Patsy Takemoto Mink holding the TITLE IX legislation that she fought for in Congress.  The lei around her neck represents her home state of Hawaii.  Behind her is the Capitol Building.  This coin was minted at the Denver Mint.

About the American Women Quarters Program

The American Women Quarters Program is a multi-year tribute to women from diverse backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and parts of the US.  They were chosen for their contributions to the abolition of slavery, civil rights activism, roles in government, as well as expertise in science, the arts, humanities and much more.

From 2022 through 2025, five new coins were released each year.  Each coin features a distinctive reverse design honoring an American woman, along with her name, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”   The obverse side showcases a new design of George Washington. 

Patsy Takemoto (1927-2002) was born in Hawaii before it became part of the United States.  After graduating from high school as valedictorian, she went to college in Pennsylvania and Nebraska. Takemoto faced racial discrimination, so she returned to Hawaii to finish her schooling.  She wanted to be a doctor but wasn’t accepted to any medical schools.  Instead, Patsy studied law at the University of Chicago.

At Law School, she met John Mink, and they were later married.  After graduation, they returned to Hawaii.  Though Patsy passed the bar exam, she couldn’t find a job because of her mixed marriage.  She started her own practice, becoming the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in Hawaii.

Shortly after Mink became an established lawyer, Hawaii was admitted to the United States.  She set her sites on Congress.  Though her first campaign was unsuccessful, she won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1964.  In Congress, Mink fought for gender and racial equality and was one of the key supporters of Title IX. 

In 1972, Mink was asked by the Oregon Democrats to run of US President.  Though her campaign didn’t gain much traction, she was still the first Asian-American woman to seek the office.  Patsy returned to Congress and served a total of 12 terms.  She spent much of her time advocating for equality in schools and in society.  After her death, the Title IX law she worked hard to pass was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.