Learning from a Music Legend
Monthly Mint Trivia: What is the name of the metal stamp that presses the design into a coin?
Lessons from the Queen of Salsa
The next 2024 honoree in the American Women Quarters™ Program is Cuban-American singer Celia Cruz. Nicknamed the ‘Queen of Salsa,’ Cruz became a pioneering performer, often the only woman in a male-dominated music scene. Her journey to the top of the charts and her iconic sound made her an inspiration for all Americans. Read on for ways you can learn from her music and her incredible story.
Provide additional context to your students by playing this video, which covers other representation of women on coins over time.
Share information about the program and each honoree using the resources below.
- U.S. Mint website American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program page, with links to individual honoree information.
- U.S. Mint Coin Classroom AWQ Program page, written for middle school grade levels.
After learning about each honoree, students can examine the details of each AWQ coin to see how details of their lives are reflected in the coin design.
- Image Library: View high-resolution photos of each coin to see all the details up close.
- Coloring Pages: Students can put their own spin on the coin design by coloring it in.
If you have one or more of the quarters on hand, use these activities to interact with the designs and create new art.
- Coin Sun Prints: Use coins with the power of the sun to create a piece of art in this activity for students Kindergarten and above.
- Coin Rubbing and Matching: Use this activity to help K-2nd graders learn each coin type and how to identify them.
- Design Your Own Coin: Ask students to research one or more of the AWQ honorees and create their own design based on their research.
Resources for Celia Cruz from around the web.
- Read this biography about the “Queen of Salsa” from the National Park Service (NPS). Learn more about salsa and Afro Latin music through articles and podcast episodes in the NPS series called “Oíste.”
- This short video from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History explains Celia’s rise to fame as salsa singer and Cuban-American.
- Learn why Celia was called the Queen of Salsa in this video featuring a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- Visit the Smithsonian’s Learning Lab for more videos and examples of items in the Smithsonian, like Celia’s famous shoes, which are explained in detail in this video from Smithsonian Music.
- Review this compilation of lesson plans and resources from The Ohio State University’s Libraries using the book “Me Llamo Celia” and a previous exhibition from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Want more ideas? Reach out to education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov for recommendations on lesson plans and activities for your students.
Coin of the Month: 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter
The 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter is the 14th coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program. Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American singer, cultural icon, and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz’s numerous honors and awards include four Latin Grammy awards, a Presidential Medal of Arts, and three Grammy awards, including a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy. She was inducted into Billboard’s Latin Music Hall of Fame and the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Her songs, performances, and spirit remain international treasures. Cruz’s influence reached well beyond her music. She was a cultural icon, celebrating her Cuban culture, which helped other Afro-Latino Americans embrace their heritage.
The reverse (tails) features a dynamic depiction of Celia Cruz flashing her dazzling smile while performing in a rumba style dress. Her signature catchphrase “¡AZÚCAR!” is inscribed on the right.
Our First Coins
Learn about early American coins in this video.
Roll the Coin Dice
Robots at Work
Watch how the Denver Mint uses robots for packaging.
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you interested in incorporating coins into your classroom next year, but aren’t sure where to start? Let us help you! The U.S. Mint offers K-6 lesson plans, online educational games, videos, online quizzes, a free Coin Coloring Book, and other resources. Reach out to us at education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov to request resources that fit your education needs.
Trivia Answer: The metal stamp that presses the design onto a coin is called the die.