Historic Release: US Mint Commemorates Harriet Tubman with Coins

A $5 gold coin honoring Harriet Tubman.Photo byUS Mint

The US Mint celebrated the release of commemorative coins honouring iconic abolitionist Harriet Tubman on Thursday, marking the bicentennial of her birth. This notable occasion saw the launch of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins, a historic first by the US Mint to recognize Tubman in such a manner.

Ventris Gibson, the US Mint Director and the first black director of the bureau, highlighted Tubman's immeasurable contributions, describing these coins as miniature art canvases that encapsulate Tubman's spirit, resilience, and relentless pursuit of freedom.

The significance of these coins lies in their designs, each representing pivotal periods of Tubman's life. The silver dollar coin portrays Tubman's role as a "conductor" in the Underground Railroad, while the half-dollar design commemorates her service as a spy and Union nurse during the Civil War.

Furthermore, the $5 gold coin portrays an elder Tubman gazing confidently towards the future, engraved with her core values of faith and freedom, reflecting her enduring legacy. The coins' designs were crafted in collaboration with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre and the Harriet Tubman Home.

The release of these coins follows President Joe Biden signing the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act into law in August 2022, directing the US Mint to mint the coins. Born into slavery, Tubman's life was marked by her courageous escape from slavery, her vital role in leading enslaved individuals to freedom through the Underground Railroad, her service in the Civil War, and her involvement in the suffrage movement.

While the commemorative coins are hailed as beautiful tributes, some, including Tubman's great-great-great-grandniece Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt, believe that seeing Tubman on the $20 bill would hold greater symbolic value. Wyatt emphasized that the $20 bill's constant circulation would serve as a powerful representation of Tubman's legacy and America's evolution.

Notably, the proceeds from the coins' sales will be directed to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre and the Harriet Tubman Home, contributing to the preservation of Tubman's legacy and the historic institutions associated with her profound impact on American history. The coins are available for purchase both online and at select US Mint stores in Washington, DC, Denver, and Philadelphia.