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.Before you read anything else here: the 2023 Harriet Tubman quarter doesn't exist. Every year, collectors and curious citizens alike search for new coin releases especially tied to iconic American figures.
With her name often tied to proposed redesigns of U.S. currency, it’s no surprise that many people think there’s a Harriet Tubman quarter already in circulation. But here’s the truth: if you've heard about this coin or seen posts about a Harriet Tubman 2023 quarter worth thousands, you’ve likely been misled.
Instead, use trusted coin Identifiers like Coin ID Scanner. Upload a photo, and the system will tell you exactly what coin you’re holding. That way, you avoid confusion and don’t fall into the trap of buying or selling coins based on misinformation.
The Myth of the 2023
The rumors probably started with a mix-up. In 2023, the U.S. Mint released five new coins as part of the American Women Quarters Program. One of those coins featured Jovita Idár, a Mexican-American journalist and activist. Her image appears without her name prominently printed on the front, and many who aren’t familiar with her assume it’s Tubman.
People are spotting this quarter in change, thinking they've found a rare release, sometimes even calling dealers asking about the “Harriet Tubman on quarter”.
The U.S. Mint has never released a circulating quarter featuring Tubman. While there has been serious discussion about putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, no quarter or bill featuring her image has been released as of 2023.
What Was Actually Released in 2023?
Instead of a Tubman coin, here’s what we actually got from the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program in 2023:
Name Legacy | Quarter | Year |
Bessie Coleman | First African American woman pilot | 2023 |
Edith Kanakaʻole | Cultural leader and educator | 2023 |
Eleanor Roosevelt | Former First Lady and activist | 2023 |
Jovita Idár | Journalist and civil rights figure | 2023 |
Maria Tallchief | First Native American prima ballerina | 2023 |
Bessie Coleman: the U.S. Mint chose Bessie Coleman to honor her achievements in aviation. As the first African American and Native American woman pilot, Coleman overcame both racial and gender barriers in the early 1900s. Denied flight school in the U.S., she learned French and trained abroad in 1921. The 2023 quarter shows her in flight gear, her role in opening the skies to future generations.
Edith Kanakaʻole: was selected for her lifelong dedication to preserving Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions. A kumu hula (hula teacher), songwriter, and educator, her work helped keep native Hawaiian identity alive during times of cultural suppression.
Eleanor Roosevelt: the Mint featured Eleanor Roosevelt to celebrate her legacy as a First Lady who redefined the role. Beyond politics, she was a global voice for human rights, chairing the committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The quarter highlights her strength as both a stateswoman and an advocate for social change, especially for women and marginalized groups.
Jovita Idár: was inspired by her fearless journalism and activism for Mexican-American communities in Texas. In the early 20th century, she wrote for and published Spanish-language newspapers that called out racial injustice, supported women’s suffrage, and advocated for education. It’s the Jovita Idár quarter that’s been most often mistaken for Tubman’s. The design features a standing female figure one that’s unfamiliar to most Americans. Many see it, assume it’s Tubman, and immediately search Harriet Tubman quarter 2023 thinking they’ve discovered something rare.
Maria Tallchief: was selected to represent Native excellence in the performing arts. As America’s first major prima ballerina and a citizen of the Osage Nation, she broke barriers in ballet at a time when the art form was dominated by European tradition.
Related articles: The Faces of Change: Stories Behind American Women Quarters
Are there any Coins that actually feature Harriet Tubman? Yes, but not quarters. In 2024, the U.S. Mint issued two commemorative coins to honor the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman's birth. These are official coins and part of the Civil Rights Commemorative Coin Program:
A Proof Clad Half Dollar minted in San Francisco.
A 99.9% Silver Proof Dollar minted in Philadelphia.
These coins show different elements of Tubman’s life, like her role in the Civil War and her legacy as a guide to freedom. These aren’t circulating coins (you won’t find them in your pocket change), they are legal tender and available to collectors directly from the Mint or authorized dealers.
That means the 2023 quarter Harriet Tubman theories are just rumors and misunderstandings.
If you're wondering how to actually collect a coin featuring Harriet Tubman, this is it, not a 2023 quarter with Harriet Tubman on it, but a real, authorized release honoring her legacy.
The Role of Misidentification: Why the Confusion Persists
Every few years, coin collectors report a spike in interest in coins that don’t exist. Part of the problem is design ambiguity. The Jovita Idár quarter doesn’t display her name front-and-center, and most people outside of the numismatic world don’t recognize her. People jump to conclusions, assuming they’ve found this coin, or worse, assuming it’s a valuable mistake. It’s not. It’s a regular circulating coin.
If there were a real one, the answer would depend on rarity, mintage, condition, and demand. But since the coin doesn’t exist, any claims about the Harriet Tubman quarter worth are purely speculative.
Some unofficial novelty coins do exist, private mints sometimes issue gold-plated or colorized coins featuring Tubman. These are not legal tender and typically have little or no collector value. Be wary of sellers hyping these coins as official or rare.
It is a myth (for now), but there are real coins out there worth collecting, and they’re still in circulation.
Also, if you're interested in long-term value, learn about silver quarters worth money. Quarters minted before 1965 contain 90% silver and carry value even in circulated condition.
Will We Ever See Harriet Tubman in a Quarter?
If you’re asking Harriet Tubman on a quarter, the answer is simple: not yet. It’s possible. She has long been discussed as a candidate for U.S. currency redesigns. The $20 bill project is still on the table, though stalled by political shifts and production delays. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Tubman included in future coin programs. But as of now, there is no quarter Harriet Tubman.
Popular Fakes and Internet Myths
We already figured out the question is the Harriet Tubman quarter worth anything. Some designs circulate online that look official but are actually fantasy pieces, altered tokens, or outright fakes. These often trick new collectors or spread through social media posts with dramatic claims of six-figure values.
Gold-plated 50 State designs are a common example. While they look flashy, these are not rare nor produced by the U.S. Mint. They’re novelty items sold in gift sets or ads and hold little to no numismatic value.
Another widespread myth involves error strikes showing two presidents or mismatched denominations, such as a Roosevelt reverse with a Washington face. These are typically altered or counterfeit and not real mint mistakes.
Then there are stories of double-dated bicentennials, glow-in-the-dark editions, or secret releases from certain U.S. mints, none of which have any verified basis.
If you ever encounter an odd-looking piece, especially one claiming to be rare and valuable, verify it with professional resources before jumping to conclusions. Genuine errors and rare finds do exist, but if it sounds too strange to be true, it probably is.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Be Fooled by Myths
If you’re asking, “Is Harriet Tubman on the quarter?” just know this: no. Any coin you think you’ve found is most likely the Jovita Idár quarter from the American Women series. The Harriet Tubman 2023 quarter does not exist.
The only official U.S. Mint coins featuring Tubman (so far) are commemorative coins from 2024, and they are not quarters. Use tools like Coin Identifier to verify coins before making assumptions or purchases. Explore silver coinage and roll hunting for real value in your collection.
Still want to find something valuable in your pocket change? Try hunting through coin rolls. Plenty of collectors have scored silver coins, errors, and old key dates just by searching rolls from the bank.
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