Eleanor Roosevelt Quarter

American Women Quarters

Background

The Eleanor Roosevelt Quarter is the eighth coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program. Eleanor Roosevelt was a first lady, author, civil liberties advocate, and Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She was instrumental in the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884 in New York City to a politically prominent family. In 1905, she married her distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

After her husband was stricken with polio in 1921, Eleanor Roosevelt became increasingly active in politics. She promoted women’s political engagement, playing a leadership role in several organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Women’s Trade Union League. Her activities were extensively covered in the media in the 1920s, making her publicly recognizable.

Roosevelt grew to more importance after her husband became president of the United States. She became the most politically active and influential first lady in history, using the position to advance many of her progressive and egalitarian goals. She traveled the nation extensively, visiting relief projects, surveying working and living conditions, and reporting to the president on her observations.

After President Roosevelt’s death in 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt continued in her public life. President Truman appointed her to the United Nations. She served as Chair of the Human Rights Commission. She worked tirelessly to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

Eleanor Roosevelt died on November 7, 1962, and is buried alongside her husband on their estate at Hyde Park.

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Characteristics

The obverse (heads) depicts a portrait of George Washington, originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark George Washington’s 200th birthday. A recommended design for the 1932 quarter, then-Treasury Secretary Mellon ultimately selected the familiar John Flanagan design.

The reverse (tails) features a depiction of Eleanor Roosevelt and the scales of justice against a backdrop representing the globe, symbolic of her impactful work with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • LIBERTY
  • IN GOD WE TRUST
  • 2023

Reverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • QUARTER DOLLAR
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
  • UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Mint and Mint Mark

Specifications

Composition Weight Diameter Thickness Edge No. of Reeds
Cupro-Nickel
8.33% Nickel
Balance Copper
5.670 g
0.955 in.
24.26 mm
1.75 mm Reeded 119

Artist Information

Obverse
  • Laura Gardin Fraser (1889-1966)
Reverse Content last reviewed October 18, 2022

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