The Paw Print

By Rehan Mathew Koshy

Each year, over 10 billion coins are brought into circulation by the U.S. Mint. Our daily lives act as a testament to this. Whenever we have to make a small payment or need spare change, coins immediately fall from one person’s hand and into another’s, a process that has kept America chugging along since 1793.

Normally, we don’t take the time to observe such coins. However, as this year’s newly minted coins roll into circulation and we withdraw another quarter from our wallets, it’s hard not to notice an expertly designed engraving of a certain trailblazer on its reverse end. This was a pioneer who had greatly influenced the course of American history. Nicknamed the “Princess of the Press,” she fought injustice not with the sword, but with the pen. Her name? Ida B. Wells.

This year, on Feb. 4th, as part of the 2025 American Women Quarters program by the U.S. Mint, a quarter honoring Wells for her countless efforts and her everlasting impact on American history has been released into circulation. This marks a special date for not only the history of Chicago, but also the nation. February is Black History Month, and Wells was a pioneer in uplifting disadvantaged Black communities.

Wells, a heroine known for her valiant efforts to eradicate lynching, segregation and other forms of discrimination from American society, is one whose legacy goes largely unnoticed by the current generation. However, what distinguished her from the rest of the activists at the time were her skills as an investigative journalist. She often wrote pamphlets and articles, most of which spread like wildfire. She also co-founded several organizations as part of her mission to uplift disadvantaged and segregated communities, primarily in Chicago. Although she faced opposition and threats across the nation, she never backed down, which is what made her mission so successful.

In an interview, Dr. Elana Hagler, the designer of the Ida B. Wells Quarter, described her experience researching and submitting her design. Through extensive research, she had learned more about Ms. Wells and her legacy. Dr. Hagler remarked, “I saw that this was a person who really decided to make every moment count. And her life unfolded, I would say, in the most meaningful and beautiful way that I could imagine because of her efforts, because of her boldness. And that’s something that can’t help but inspire everyone, I think. When we see people living their best lives, I think it encourages all of us to try to live our best life, and that brings up all of society altogether.”

Dr. Hagler’s design was one of only 16 honored via this program, which celebrates the accomplishments of female trailblazers who were severely underrepresented throughout American history. In the case of Ms. Wells, her contributions during the Progressive Era contributed immensely towards shaping both politics and modern society.

Ms. Wells also lived in our city of Chicago for over a decade, where much of her work during the latter half of her life was based. She founded the Alpha Suffrage Club, the first organization to promote suffrage for African American women in Illinois. She also helped found Chicago’s first Black kindergarten and African American orchestra.

Hopefully next time we tuck our spare change into the depths of our wallets, we take a moment to observe the quarter in her honor and remember her everlasting legacy. Without her valiant efforts, our country would not be the prosperous nation it is today.