2023-D 25C Jovita Idar First Day of Issue Stephanie Sabin Flag (Regular Strike)

2023-D Jovita Idar American Women Quarter

The 2023-D Jovita Idar Quarter (#919369) was the fourth of five designs released in 2023 and the ninth issue overall in the American Women Quarters program. The coin honors the life and legacy of Jovita Idar, a teacher, journalist, and lifelong advocate for the rights of Mexican Americans.

Born on September 7, 1885, into a family of activists, Idar dedicated her life to social justice. While teaching in a small town near Laredo, Texas, she witnessed the profound inequities of the state’s racially segregated educational system. This inspired her later work in San Antonio, where she established a free kindergarten for Mexican American children in 1921.

A Masterpiece of Typographic Design

The quarter’s reverse design, created by U.S. Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw, is a bold departure from traditional numismatic portraiture. Based on a historic photograph, it depicts Idar with hands clasped, her blouse composed entirely of bilingual inscriptions representing her major accomplishments and the newspapers for which she wrote. The inscriptions include:

• Professional Roles: TEACHER, NURSE, JOURNALIST (JOURNALISTA), MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS.
• Publications & Organizations: EVOLUCIÓN, ASTREA, EL HERALDO CRISTIANO, LA CRUZ BLANCA, LA CRÓNICA, EL PROGRESO, and LA LIGA FEMENIL MEXICANISTA.

The artist’s initials, JPM, are located at the bottom-left corner of her garment.

Selection and Artistic Recognition

The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) reviewed 11 candidate designs before selecting JI-R-08. The design has since received significant international acclaim:

• CoinWeek's Best Coin Design of 2023: Selected from over 200 legal tender coins for its innovative use of circulating space.
• Best Circulated Coin (32nd Mint Directors Conference): In April 2025, the Mint Directors Association voted the Idar Quarter as the top circulating coin at their conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

Program Background and Distribution

Authorized by Public Law 116-330, the American Women Quarters Program follows the success of the 50 State Quarters and America the Beautiful programs.

Collector Availability: Collectors could acquire the 2023-D Jovita Idar Quarter through standard banking channels at face value or via premium Mint products: 100-coin bags: $45.00 Two-roll sets (P & D): $40.00 Three-roll sets (P, D, & S): $60.00 (The "S" mintmark coins from San Francisco were not released into circulation, making these sets particularly desirable). The coin was also included in the 2023 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set.

Launch and Community Celebration

The U.S. Mint celebrated the launch with two events in San Antonio. On September 14, 2023, a ceremonial "coin pour" was held featuring a container embellished with Mexican tiles. Attendees included U.S. Mint Deputy Director Kristie McNally, Idar family members Rev. Dr. Elizabeth A. Lopez and Martha L. Aki, and Congressman Joaquin Castro.

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