The US Mint has unveiled a set of commemorative coins honoring the renowned abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
Released on Thursday, these coins celebrate the bicentennial of Tubman’s birth and mark the first time the US Mint has dedicated coins to honor her, according to the agency.
The collection includes $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins, each portraying different aspects of Tubman’s remarkable life.
Ventris Gibson, the first Black director of the US Mint, expressed the profound impact of Tubman’s heroism, passion for freedom, and service to the nation. The coins, he said, serve as miniature canvases of art, embodying Tubman’s spirit, perseverance, tireless efforts, and her unwavering desire for freedom for all individuals.
President Joe Biden signed the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act into law in August 2022, directing the US Mint to issue these coins.
Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman escaped in 1849 and became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement. She played a crucial role as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved Africans find freedom, served in various capacities during the Civil War, and was later involved in the women’s suffrage movement.
The design of each coin reflects a specific period in Tubman’s life and her abolitionist efforts. The silver dollar portrays her time as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, while the half-dollar design depicts Tubman as a spy and Union nurse during the Civil War.
The $5 gold coin features an older Tubman “gazing confidently into the distance and towards the future,” inscribed with her core values, including faith and freedom.
Collaborating with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Harriet Tubman Home, the US Mint crafted these coins as a tribute to Tubman’s legacy. The release of these coins coincides with renewed efforts by lawmakers to have Tubman replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.
Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty introduced the “Woman on the Twenty Act of 2023,” aiming to feature Harriet Tubman on all US $20 bills printed after December 31, 2026.
While the Tubman coins have been praised as “beautiful,” some, including Tubman’s great-great-great-grandniece, Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt, emphasize that having Tubman on the $20 bill would carry more significant symbolism, representing America’s growth as a nation.
The commemorative coins are available for purchase online and in US Mint stores in Washington, DC, Denver, and Philadelphia.
Proceeds from the coin sales will contribute to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Harriet Tubman Home, as stated on the US Mint website.
