Press/Progress! The Story Behind the Jovita Idar Quarter

Nowadays, each country strives to pay tribute to its leaders, contributors, peacemakers, and those who (were to) care about the bright future of the nation. In the US, there is a great initiative in the sphere of numismatics that consists in commemoration of the most prominent women in history, and recently, in 2023, the American Mint released the quarter of Jovita Idar.

By the way, do you know who Jovita Idar was? Why are we talking about a story of resistance, advocacy, and the belief that the press could drive progress? In this material, you are free to explore what this instance really means and check coin value (both aesthetic and financial) in the end. 

Who Was Jovita Idar? 

Jovita Idar was born on September 7, 1885, in Laredo, Texas, and became a leading journalist, educator, and activist.  The Spanish-language publication La Crónica, which her father Nicasio Idar edited, revealed the inequities that Mexican-Americans endured in the early 1900s. This was the beginning of her path.

As a reporter for La Crónica, Jovita utilized her position to write about poverty, prejudice, and the lack of educational opportunities for groups of Mexican Americans. Her writings were incisive, bold, and scathing of the complacency in her own community as well as Anglo-American discrimination.

In 1911, she joined the Primer Congreso Mexicanista, a civil rights group that promoted the rights of Mexican Americans. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Liga Femenil Mexicanista, an organization devoted to advancing women's advancement and educational opportunities. Jovita broke down barriers with her leadership and openness during a time when women were expected to stay silent.

The most brutal part of her path came further. Soon after she wrote articles in 1914 that criticized the way the US government treated Mexican-Americans, the Texas Rangers arrived to shut down her family's press. In a symbolic act of resistance against censorship and oppression, Jovita physically blocked their way in support of the printing press. Such a great act of liberty!

Related article: Presidential Dollar Coins Value.

The Specifications of the 2023 Jovita Idar Quarter

In order to commemorate women who have made important contributions to American history, the US Mint developed the American Women Quarters Program, the 2023 Jovita Idar quarter is an essential part of it. So as to evaluate the Jovita Idar quarter worth correctly, let us quickly take a look at its main features and details.

Design Details

Reverse (Back) Design: Sculpted by John P. McGraw and designed by artist Cristina Martinez, the coin's reverse side displays an impressive portrait of Jovita. Her modest clothes are covered with words like "rights", "justice", etc., that demonstrate the power in her struggle for equality and against oppression, particularly for women and Mexican-Americans.

The inscriptions surrounding the image include: “JOVITA IDAR,” “MEXICAN-AMERICAN RIGHTS,” "Échale ganas” (a Spanish phrase meaning “Give it your all”), and traditional “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the coin’s denomination, “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

Obverse (Front) Design: Obverse (Front) Design: As such, the obverse side features Laura Gardin Fraser's classic portrait of George Washington, which was first created for the 1932 quarter and is currently utilized throughout the American Women Quarters series. 

The picture displays Washington in profile, with inscriptions like "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the minting year, 2023. The mint mark, which could be "P," "D," or "S," depends on whether the coin was made in Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco respectively.

Technical Specifications

• Composition: The standard clad quarters are composed of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. For collectors, there is produced a 99.9% silver proof version.

• Weight: (5.67 grams for a clad version or 6.25 grams for silver proofs)

• Diameter: 24.26 mm 

• Thickness: 1.75 mm

• Edge: Reeded

Minting Locations and Variants

There are several varieties of the 2023 quarter Jovita Idar made for collectors and circulation:

1. Circulation Strikes: Produced at the Mints in Denver (D) and Philadelphia (P).

2. Proof and Silver Proof Strikes: Arranged in collector sets at the San Francisco (S) Mint.

3. Uncirculated Sets: Unlike common circulation pieces a sharper finish specially manufactured for collectors.

How Much Is a Jovita Idar Quarter Worth? 

Like in any numismatic case, the 2023 quarter Jovita Idar value varies according to its condition, mint mark, and strike type. Unless they are in uncirculated or high-grade form, which can raise their value to between $1 and $25, standard circulation coins from the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) Mints typically carry a face value ($0.25) only. What about other types, explore the table below.

The 2023 Jovita Idar Quarter Errors to Know

When it comes to the 2023 Jovita Idar quarter worth, it is always vital to explore deviations first, as they present the most desirable part of every series anyway. Potential minting errors may increase the coin's value for good. Even though modern minting techniques are extremely accurate, flaws do occasionally occur, increasing the coins' appeal to collectors due to their unique appeal. So, which errors should we care about? 

1. Die Cracks

Value: $5 - $30

Die cracks are usually caused by tiny fractures in the minting die that struck the coin, which results in elevated lines or jagged patterns on the surface. These tend to pop up close to the borders, around inscriptions, or close to high-relief elements like the printing press or Jovita Idar's figure.

2. Doubled Die Errors

Value: $30 - $100

When the coin's design appears duplicated, usually affecting inscriptions, numbers, or other design components, it is known as a doubled die mistake. Look for doubling on inscriptions such as "MEXICAN-AMERICAN RIGHTS," "Échale ganas," or the mint mark in the Jovita Idar quarter. What if you find treasure in your coin?.. 

3. Clipped Planchet

Value: $20 - $75 

Sometimes, before the coin is struck, a part of the metal blank might be absent, and the result is called a clipped planchet, which gives the coin's edge a straight-edged or crescent shape.

4. Struck-Through Errors

Value: $25 - $100

As a rule, these errors occur during striking when a foreign object, like oil, debris, or a piece of metal, gets trapped between the die and the planchet. This leads to a section of the coin's surface to be deformed or blank. Clear examples with missing or obscured features are particularly desired for sure.

5. The “In Cod We Trust” Error

Value: $20 - $100

A notable deviation known as the Jovita Idar quarter error In Cod We Trust occurs on certain coins when a minting defect turns the word "God" in the national motto "In God We Trust" into "Cod." To be more precise, the letter "G" may be incomplete or resemble a "C" due to dirt or grease obstructing part of the die's engraving.

6. Off-Center Strikes

Value: $50 - $150

Another error worth mentioning is the off-center strike, i.e., the occurrence when the minting process results in a portion of the design being absent. Usually, off-center errors fall between 5% and 50%.

By the way, so as to detect an error, one should be careful and search for unusual patterns. But how? Which tools to employ? One of the simplest and most effective tools for identifying coin errors and determining their worth is Coin ID Scanner. 

The app relies on innovative image recognition technology which helps one rapidly identify coins, modern and historical ones like the 1978 penny, point out possible mistakes, and receive real-time valuations based on market data. Indeed, this makes a useful tool for both novice and experienced numismatists, who wish to spot valuable anomalies and keep up with the latest coin prices on a whim. Try it now and let us know what you think!

Sources: 

1. https://www.usmint.gov/american-women-quarters-2023-rolls-and-bags-jovita-idar

2. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2023-p-25c-jovita-idar/919368