The United States Mint is set to depict the face of Celia Cruz, the late Cuban singer, on the country’s currency, thus making her the first Latino in
The United States Mint is set to depict the face of Celia Cruz, the late Cuban singer, on the country’s currency, thus making her the first Latino in US history to grace their money.
The treasury department bureau responsible for producing coins said the music legend will be in the US quarter.
Widely known as the Queen of Salsa, Cruz was chosen along with four other exemplary women from history.
They are to be featured in the 25-cent piece as part of the American Women Quarters Program in 2024.
The four-year programme celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of women in the US.
Cruz is considered one of the most influential Latin singers of all time and a cultural icon.
She is remembered for her highly influential body of work consisting of over 80 albums.
Cruz was a naturalized Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artistes of the 20th century.
She rose to fame in Cuba during the 50s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname ‘La Guarachera de Cuba’.
In the following decades, she became known globally as the ‘Queen of Salsa’ due to her work in Latin music.
Cruz earned 23 gold records, won five Grammy Awards, and received the president’s National Medal of Arts.
She died in 2003 at the age of 77.
“All of the women being honored have lived remarkable and multi-faceted lives, and have made a significant impact on our Nation in their own unique way,” said Ventris Gibson, the US mint director.
“The women pioneered change during their lifetimes, not yielding to the status quo imparted during their lives.
“By honoring these pioneering women, the Mint continues to connect America through coins which are like small works of art in your pocket.”
