The last American Women's Quarter dollar was released yesterday from the United States Mint. Sold in bags and rolls from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco (3-roll set ONLY), the 2025-dated quarter features Althea Gibson.
As the first black athlete to break the color barrier at the highest level in tennis, Althea Gibson was a pioneering multi-athlete who accomplished a long list of firsts throughout her career. Gibson won 11 Grand Slam titles by the end of the 1950s as a singles and doubles competitor, including multiple championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the French Open. In 1958 she was voted the Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to her success as a tennis athlete, Gibson also became the first Black player to compete in the Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
The reverse of the 25-cent denomination coin depicts Gibson with a racket in one hand and a tennis ball in the other. She is standing by the net on a tennis court awaiting her match. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, ALTHEA GIBSON, QUARTER DOLLAR, and TRAILBLAZING CHAMPION are also inscribed.
Laura Gardin Fraser’s portrait of George Washington continues to grace the common obverse throughout the program. The design was originally entered into a contest for the 1932 quarter which honored the First President’s birth. LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and 2025 are seen inscribed along with the corresponding mintmarks.
Retailing for $47.25, the 100-coin bags are available from Philadelphia and Denver. The 2-roll sets retail for $42.00 while the 3-roll sets (including San Francisco) are $63.00.
Source: United States Mint