The Maya Angelou quarter is set to be released into circulation in 2021 in permanent tribute to the renowned poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. The coin is one among several such commemorative coins created to recognize and celebrate American achievements, people of various backgrounds, and many historic sites. As far as the number of Maya Angelou quarters being made, estimates vary widely. It’s expected, though, that there will be tens – and possibly hundreds – of millions that enter circulation.
Minted by the United States Mint, the Maya Angelou commemorative quarter will feature an image of the activist to the right of her birth name, “Maya Angelou.” Words around the edge will likely include “Her Voice Changed The World” and “Service, Patience, and Wisdom.” Other details regarding the design process, including the selection of the design, are yet to be released.
In the run-up to the release of the Maya Angelou quarter, the U.S. Mint is sure to use its usual process of minting the coins. This will include the production of crude metal ‘blanks’ by the melt, die and blank division of the Mint. These blanks are then sent to one of two other divisions, Philadelphia or Denver, to be stamped with their designs and re-checked for quality. Finally, they will be shipped to Federal Reserve banks, such as at Boston and Richmond, where they will be mixed within the nation’s coinage before reaching everyday circulation.
As of now, there is no exact number that has been published by the U.S. Mint regarding the number of Maya Angelou quarters expected to enter circulation. However, estimates around the web suggest that between 50 to 500 million may be produced. This estimate is based on several factors, such as the U.S. Mint’s known production practices, the specific design and its estimated popularity, as well as possible special edition production runs.
The precise number of Maya Angelou quarters will ultimately depend on the Mint’s initial production run and then the compounded amount from secondary production runs as demand requires. It’s possible, then, that a significant amount of the commemorative coins will end up in circulation, meaning that it may be easier for most coin collectors to obtain them than other more rare quarters.
Design
The U.S. Mint currently plans on having the design ready for the Maya Angelou quarter before summer 2021. However, the design process has been ongoing since late 2020 and includes a extensive input from experts with extensive knowledge of the activist and her body of work. In addition, the design will go through several reviews, both internally and publicly, to guarantee that its approach is respectful, appropriate and accurate.
The artist of the design will be chosen by the U.S. Mint and announced at a later date. Since the Treasury will not accept applications and proposals for the design, a great deal of trust and discretion will be involved in the selection process. All the same, it’s sure to involve an engaging blend of creativity, imagination, and a reverence for the late poet, artist and civil rights activist.
When it comes to the design process, the U.S. Mint generally takes between two to four months to complete the process since the Treasury’s final approval is the widest-reaching step and can on occasion require several iterations of review and changes before given the green light.
It’s likely that the Maya Angelou quarter design will need to transcend the obvious. It will have to encapsulate a great woman’s life story in a meaningful and emotive manner in order to adequately stand out from the increasing number of commemorative coins produced each year.
Release Schedule
The Mint has yet to announce an exact date for the release of the Maya Angelou quarter. Rumors have circulated that the coin is expected to enter circulation at some point during summer 2021, although the exact date is yet to be revealed.
Also, the schedule for its release will depend on the production process and its required approvals. Generally, coins reach Federal Reserve banks between four and six weeks after the Mint has finished minting them. This means that it will take between two to three months before the coin starts to appear in circulation.
Moreover, the Federal Reserve moves the coins around depending on the demand for them. This can be due to seasonality, the availability of coins in circulation and the amount of coins in their reserves at the time. Depending on these factors, it can take between six months to two years before the coins become commonly distributed nationwide.
As a result, it’s difficult to predict when the Maya Angelou quarter will reach its maximum circulation. In some cases, the Mint chooses to change its protocol for the special edition coins and has them move around faster by supplying more to the reserve banks. Whichever is the case, it’s likely that the coin will be available in most places by 2022.
Production Process
The Maya Angelou quarter is certain to go through the same production process as other coins in circulation. This process starts with the melting of metallic alloys in the Mint’s foundry and then being fed into forming and press machines at the melt, die, and blank division of the Mint.
The blanks are then transferred to the Denver or Philadelphia Mints, where they are run through the press machines once more. However, this time they are run with their own stamp designs. This stage is especially important because it’s here that the coins acquire their official weight and size before entering circulation.
The Maya Angelou quarter will also undergo a quality control process, which will be done both before and after they’ve been stamped. During this phase of production, the coins are identified and sorted based on finish and error type. Those that pass quality control will then be shipped to the Federal Reserve for distribution.
Once the coins reach the Federal Reserve banks, they are sorted via automatic equipment and wrapped in special paper. The number of coins varies depending on demand and distributions are generally provided in multiples of 40 whether to banks, vending machine companies, or professional coin dealers nationwide.
For those looking to purchase new Maya Angelou quarters, the best way to buy them is to either contact the U.S. Mint directly or wait until they become available at many local and online coin dealers. Additionally, many of the Federal Reserve banks across the country may also offer the coins.
Materials
The material used by the U.S. Mint to make the Maya Angelou commemorative quarter is the same used for many other coins such as the quarter and the penny. This includes a complex alloy of metals, such as copper, zinc, and sometimes manganese, which is standardized and called ‘Clad Layered Composition’.
This composition has been used for many U.S. coins since 1965, when it was first issued with the Silver Half Dollar. It also often used for other quarter-dollar coins and consists of three layers, the core in the middle being copper-nickel, then sandwiched between two layers of a copper-zinc alloy. This composition has resulted in coins that are durable and resistant to wear.
The manufacture, distribution, and exchange of quarters has a deep and colorful history. Constructed out of durable materials, newly minted coins chiefly circulate via commercial and industrial channels, though, as a way of honoring a person who is considered a national figure, the release of the Maya Angelou coin will likely give it special significance.
In the end, the Maya Angelou quarter will stand as an official reminder of the importance of Angelou’s life and works, while inspiring all who come to learn and appreciate her legacy. How many of these Maya Angelou quarters will ultimately be made, then, only time will tell.
