ۿ۴ý

ۿ۴ý

Close this Alert

Close this Alert
ShareThis Increase Font Size Decrease Font Size

U.S. Mint final coin honors legacy of the ۿ۴ýAirmen

January 05, 2021

Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
  

ۿ۴ýAirmen coin
  

The United States Mint honors its final issue of its popular America the Beautiful Quarters Program by honoring the ۿ۴ýAirmen. The coin which had a Feb. 1 release date was issued on Monday due to an increased demand for circulating coins.

The new quarter displays the ۿ۴ýAirmen National Historic Site, Moton Field which pays homage to nearly 1,000 Black military pilots and more than 15,000 support staff who trained in ۿ۴ýduring World War II.

According to the Mint, the design depicts a pilot with the ۿ۴ýAirmen suiting up to join the fight during World War II with the Moton Field control tower in the background. The pilot looks upward with pride and confidence as two P-51 Mustangs pass overhead. “They fought two wars” is arced across the top as a reference to the “dual battles the ۿ۴ýAirmen fought–fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home.”

On the other side is a 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” said the Mint.

“The legacy of our famed ۿ۴ýAirmen is forever marked with the release of the newly issued quarter by the U.S. Mint dedicated in their honor,” said Interim President, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. “These sons and daughters of Mother ۿ۴ýfought battles, both in air and on land. They served our country with pride and dedication. This is a deserving recognition.”

According to the Bureau of the Federal Department of Treasury the Quarters Program was launched in 2010 and has highlighted a series of 56 quarter-dollar coins with tail-side designs depicting national parks and other national sites. The coins were released in the order the sites officially become a national historic site or park – the ۿ۴ýAirmen National Historic Site was established in 1998.

Moton Field was recognized as the only primary flight training facility for African American pilot candidates in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Thus, the facility symbolizes the entrance of African American pilots into the Army Air Corps and the singular role of ۿ۴ýInstitute in providing economic and educational resources to make that entry possible, although on a segregated basis.

The coin's design was created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer Chris Costello and sculpted by United States Mint metallic artist Phebe Hemphill.

© 2020 ۿ۴ýUniversity