The United States Mint has officially released a collection of commemorative coins to honor the remarkable life and legacy of abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman.
The release follows a decade-long journey that began with former President Barack Obama’s proposal to feature Tubman on the $20 bill.
The commemorative Tubman coins, available for preorder since Thursday, consist of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins. The U.S. Mint announced that these coins will start shipping in February. Enthusiasts can also purchase a set of all three coins for $836.25.
Ventris C. Gibson, the Director of the U.S. Mint, expressed the significance of the coins, stating, “Every coin produced by the United States Mint helps to tell a story that teaches us about America’s history or connects us to a special memory. We hope this program will honor the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and inspire others to learn more about this amazing woman.”
Each coin carries a surcharge, with $35 for each $5 gold coin sold, $10 for each silver dollar sold, and $5 for each half dollar sold. According to the U.S. Mint, the surcharge will be distributed equally to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Auburn, New York.
The announcement comes after a significant push to feature Harriet Tubman on U.S. currency, initiated by President Obama in 2014. The effort gained momentum after a letter from a girl in Massachusetts suggested that women should appear on currency, prompting Obama to call it “a pretty good idea.” U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks introduced legislation for the commemorative coins during Black History Month in February 2020, highlighting Tubman’s courage, strength, and leadership during challenging times.
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta “Minty” Ross in the early 1820s in Dorchester County, Maryland, escaped slavery at the age of 27. She subsequently returned to Maryland numerous times, rescuing as many as 70 enslaved people through the Underground Railroad, a network organized by Black and white abolitionists.
Tubman’s contributions extended to the Civil War, where she worked for the Union Army in various capacities, earning her the distinction of being one of the first Black women to serve in the military. Post-war, she became involved in the women’s suffrage campaign alongside notable figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
In 1859, Tubman purchased a home in Auburn, New York, and established a residence for the elderly. She passed away in 1913, receiving military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery.
The decision to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill gained further support after public comments were sought by Jacob Lew, Obama’s treasury secretary. In April 2016, Obama announced Tubman’s selection, with plans to replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the bill and move Jackson to a scene on the reverse side.
Andrew Jackson’s legacy, as the nation’s seventh president, has faced criticism due to his ownership of enslaved people and his involvement in the forced relocation of Native Americans known as the Trail of Tears. The decision to replace Jackson with Tubman symbolizes a significant step in acknowledging and rectifying historical injustices.
