Voto Para La Mujer Quarter is a Major “Change”!

In August 2022, the U.S. Mint will begin circulating quarters commemorating a Hispanic woman – The Nina Otero-Warren “Voto Para La Mujer Quarter.” This will be the first time that the life and legacy of a Hispanic woman is recognized on any form of U.S. currency. Check your pockets for this positive “change”!  

Who was Nina Otero-Warren?

Adelina “Nina” Otero-Warren was born in New Mexico in 1881 to parents who could trace their ancestry to the early Spanish colonists of Nuevo Mexico in the 1700s. She spent much of her life working on important social causes and participating in government to better the lives of women, Hispanos and Native Americans. Otero-Warren is best known for being:

• A Prominent “Suffragette”: Before 1919, women in the United States were not allowed to vote. “Suffragettes” was the term used to describe women and women’s activist groups that fought to pass the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The 19th Amendment guarantees women’s right to vote by making it illegal to discriminate with respect to voting rights on the basis of sex: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Otero-Warren was prominent in the woman’s suffrage movement in her home state of New Mexico. She also worked to involve the Spanish-speaking community in the struggle, translating suffragette speeches and pamphlets into Spanish. The Spanish phrase on her new “Voto Para La Mujer Quarter” – is a translation of one of the movement’s main slogans: “Votes for Women.”
• The First Hispanic Woman to Run for U.S. Congress: In 1922, Otero-Warren ran for New Mexico’s (then) only seat in the House of Representatives. (New Mexico now has three seats in the House.) She lost the race, in part because of her support for the teaching of Spanish language and culture in public schools.
• The First Female Superintendent of Instruction in New Mexico: Otero-Warren was in charge of Santa Fe public schools from 1917 to 1929. At a time when students were punished for speaking Spanish in the classroom, Otero-Warren advocated for a gentler, more inclusive education environment. She changed the curriculum to include the teaching of Spanish language and culture; hired Hispano teachers; improved the physical condition of Santa Fe schools; and lengthened the school day. Otero-Warren also opposed placing Native American children in boarding schools away from their parents and reservation lands.

The Voto Para La Mujer Quarter is Part of The American Women Quarters™ Program

The Mint is the part of the U.S. government responsible for making coins. (Paper money is made by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.) From 2022-2026, the Mint will produce quarters that honor a diverse group of women who have made significant contributions to America. Many of the women honored and their accomplishments historically have been underrepresented and underappreciated. To learn more about the American Women Quarters™ Program and Nina Otero-Warren Voto Para La Mujer Quarter, check out this video: