The first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license, Bessie Coleman, will be featured on the U.S. quarter.
The aviation pioneer was the first Black person to receive an international pilot’s license. Coleman applied for several flight schools in the United States. However, due to her African and Native American mixed race, she was not accepted into any. She would eventually move to France, where she was accepted into the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in Le Crotoy and received her international pilot’s license on June 15th, 1921, from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. One year later, she led the first public flight guided by a Black woman.
Her feature on the coin is part of the United States Mint’s 2023 American Women Quarters Program, a way of honoring influential women who left a lasting mark on American history. Dr. Maya Angelou was featured on the quarter several months ago.
“I am proud that the Mint continues to connect America through coins by honoring these pioneering women and their groundbreaking contributions,” stated the U.S. Mint’s Deputy Director, Ventris C. Gibson.
Coleman tragically lost her life in a plane crash on April 30th, 1926. However, her legacy has continued to inspire women of color in aviation. The Bessie Coleman Aerospace Legacy Foundation hopes to keep her memory alive and motivate young girls to pursue flight careers.
