Today, the United States Mint honors America’s first major prima ballerina with the release of rolls and bags of 2023 Maria Tallchief quarters.
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The quarter, which celebrates Tallchief’s impact both on and off the stage, is the last of the five strikes of the year from the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters™ series. The program debuted last year and features five unique designs annually with a run of four years.
Maria Tallchief was born on January 24, 1925, and showed incredible promise as a dancer at a very young age. Her family moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dancing career when she was just eight years old. She eventually moved to New York and became the New York City Ballet’s first star in 1946. Within just a few years, she established herself as a prima ballerina and revolutionized the industry with her passion.
Maria Tallchief Quarter Products
There are three different products available that contain the new 2023 Maria Tallchief quarter dollars. They include coins struck at three distinct U.S. Mint facilities: the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint, and the San Francisco Mint. The options include:
- Two-Roll Sets for $40 – containing one roll of 40 quarters from the Philadelphia Mint and one roll of 40 quarters from the Denver Mint
- Three-Roll Sets for $60 – containing three 40 quarter rolls, with one from the Philadelphia Mint, one from the Denver Mint and one from the San Francisco Mint
- 100-Coin Bags for $45 – 100 quarters from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint
The Philadelphia and Denver Mints strike the circulating coinage of the nation, so Tallchief quarters from these facilities will eventually end up in pocket change, as they also started entering circulation today. Quarters struck at the San Francisco Mint, however, are produced solely for numismatic purposes, such as for the three-set rolls, making them more desirable to collectors.
Maria Tallchief Quarter Designs
Maria Tallchief is depicted in a balletic pose on the reverse (tails side) of each new quarter. Inscriptions on the design read: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "QUARTER DOLLAR," and "MARIA TALLCHIEF." Underneath her English name, we find Tallchief’s Osage name, which translates to "Two Standards," written in Osage orthography.
The artwork was completed by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Ben Sowards, with the sculpting done by United States Mint Chief Engraver Joseph Menna.
A common obverse design appears on all issues of the American Women Quarters Program. It is the work of Laura Gardin Fraser and depicts a portrait of George Washington. The likeness of the first U.S. President was originally created to mark George Washington’s 200th birthday and was a candidate to appear on the 1932 circulating quarter dollar.
Obverse inscriptions are "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "2023."
Quarter Specifications
| Denomination: | Quarter |
| Finish: | Uncirculated |
| Composition: | 8.33% nickel, balance copper |
| Weight: | 5.670 grams |
| Diameter: | 0.955 inch (24.26 mm) |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | Philadelphia – P Denver – D San Francisco – S |
| Privy Mark: | None |
Ordering
Maria Tallchief quarters may be ordered by visiting the U.S. Mint’s online catalog quarter products.
Like previous program releases, the two-roll sets have a product limit of 9,140 with an initial household order limit of three. Three-roll set sales are limited to 12,620, also with an initial household order limit of three. Bag options have a product limit of 7,860 with initial household order limits of ten.
U.S. Mint’s Women Quarters Program
Congress authorized the American Women Quarters Program with Public Law 116-330. As mentioned, the series debuted in 2022 with designs honoring Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren, and Anna May Wong.
2023 American Women quarters include:
- Bessie Coleman – first African American and first Native American woman licensed pilot (issued February 14th)
- Edith Kanakaʻole – influential Hawaiian composer and custodian of native culture and traditions (debuted March 27th)
- Eleanor Roosevelt – first lady, author, and civil liberties advocate (released June 5)
- Jovita Idar – Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist (issued August 15th)
- Maria Tallchief – America’s first prima ballerina (this release)
In addition to bags and rolls, the American Women Quarters also appear in various other U.S. Mint products, including annual sets like the proof quarters (released March 21) and silver quarters (released April 4), as well as the 2023 American Women Ornament Collection.
These quarters are circulating-quality (the lowest quality coins the U.S. Mint produces & are the same as those put into circulation (except the “S” roll coins, which are not put into circulation).
The first paragraph should mention she was a Native American Indian.
NumisdudeTX
Major D,
I didn’t mean to imply these “S” Mint mark quarters are any different than the others – I was just pointing out that they are not put into circulation like the “P” & “D” ones. And they have all been whirled around in a metal coin counting machine getting scratches before being dumped into the Mint’s paper wrappers. If you ever find a MS-70 one of these from the rolls, you won the lottery jackpot!
NumisdudeTX
Maybe its just me but ive gotten somewhat bored with this series of quarters in general. Personally id love to see a series of Americas greatest (deceased)stars and entertainers of the 20th century. Could you imagine quarters of Astaire, Gable, Kelly, Garland, Sinatra, Stewart etc…Kate Smith, Bing Crosby etc. As a collectible i THINK it would have a broader base. Just sayin…
FYI,
I’m a “Friend of Dorothy” (FOD) = gay. Judy Garland & her singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the movie & even later in her life as an alcoholic, with little Liza Minnelli on stage with her makes me cry every time. Yes, we need a Judy Garland coin.
NumisdudeTX
Well Seth, for just $29,95, you to can own a Judy Garland coin! I did get a chuckle, when I saw the name Kate Smith, as I immediately subbed in my vote for Jaclyn Smith! What an “Angel”, as well as the others. Hard to disagree with your stats list, however a bit before my time. BTW my vote actually goes to a new US Mint program called, “Predator’s of North America”! Great White, Grizzly, Mountain Lion, Wolf, etc. Or maybe call it the Apex Predator Series? I can guarantee you that if any of these were seen in their… Read more »
CaliSkier,
Thanks for the laugh on those Judy Garland coins – JFK half dollars with color stickers on them & too tacky for my taste. A U.S. Mint coin with a Great White shark on it would sell out in a minute! (Your apex predator animals coin series suggestion for the Mint is a good one for sure).
NumisdudeTX
Major D,
Lmao! “Deeze nuts”!
When you say “State Nuts”, do you mean the food, or famous crazy people on coins?!! Lol.
NumisdudeTX
Major D, & Kaiser,
That is one of the top 10 sketches in SNL history I think, & I laugh as hard as I did the first time every time I see it in a rerun.
I do love smelling & tasting a nice couple of moist, pungent, savory Schweddy balls from time to time, I must admit! Lol.
NumisdudeTX
Glad I could give you 2 a little humor, Seth and Kaiser! BTW, I picked up a Jovita Idar .25 in change today. Such an interesting looking coin IMO.
Here’s a thought, if you want to see a picture of one of your favourite ‘stars’, just google them.
Seeeeeee, my post prompted many responses…..pop culture it is! LOL.
“New York, London, Paris, Munich – Everybody talk about, Pop Muzik”,
– by M (Rubin Scott) 1979.
NumisdudeTX
Pop, pop:.. pop music, Talk about, Pop Musik, Talk about, pop Muszik, thanks Seth for he throw back music references!
looks like the 3 roll set still not sold out. I guess the speculators have dropped their subscriptions, probably a glut on EBay since the Mint increased the number of rolls available from 7600 to 12600. Glut of Morgan Proof dollars and the higher prices.
perhaps the theme like ‘ballerina’ as opposed to something dealing with Liberty has something to do with it.
Tom,
“She’s a dancing Queen…” – ABBA.
(And she’s on both the 2023 NA $1 coin & on an AWQ 25-cent coin this year, dancing her way into our hearts!).
NumisdudeTX
Kaiser Wilhelm, if I may interject and elaborate a bit further. Maria Tallchief is actually a “two denomination” honoree. Many, many more than 2 coins. LOL there are 8 different coins and a grip of products containing them. On another blog site a reader had a similar comment and I replied with the following. Sorry if I have already posted this here on CoinNews. “Larry says: “I just realized that Maria Tallchief is on both a quarter and the native American Dollar. That has to be a a first, and probably the only time that will ever happen. What an… Read more »
I am quite honored to hear that you hold my post in such high regard Kaiser Wilhelm. Especially since you are such an integral part of this blog, offering such a positive and prominent presence. I appreciate your appreciation! Prost!