U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) on Thursday announced the official release of the Patsy T. Mink quarter, which is part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program for 2024.
Hirono was joined at a ceremony in Honolulu by University of Hawaii President David Lassner, state Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi and community advocates for gender equity to highlight Congresswoman Mink’s legacy as the author of Title IX, and the ongoing importance of gender equity in education.
Mink, who died of pneumonia in 2002 at age 74, served in the U.S. House for 24 years. She was the first Asian-American to serve in Congress, where she represented Hawaii as a Democrat.
She was of Japanese descent and was born and raised on Maui.
“As the first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy Mink was a trailblazer who fought to ensure that generations of girls and women could have every opportunity men have,” Hirono said in a press release. “Congresswoman Mink’s legacy lives on through Title IX, the landmark legislation she authored to outlaw sex-based discrimination in education.
“As we work to build on the progress she made, I am proud to announce the launch of this quarter honoring Patsy and her legacy, so that people across our state and country can learn more about her life and contributions to the fight for social justice, equality and civil rights.”
In 2021, Hirono sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Mint to include the late Mink in the American Women Quarters Program.
“All of us at the University of Hawaii are beyond proud and grateful to have been part of the important work of Patsy Takemoto Mink and to be able to celebrate this milestone honoring her today,” said Lassner in the press release. “Patsy is a distinguished UH alumna who left a lasting legacy to the world with the enactment of Title IX.”
Wookie Kim, legal director at ACLU Hawaii, said: “The Patsy T. Mink quarter serves as a powerful reminder of Congresswoman Mink’s enduring impact on civil rights and the importance of her contributions in shaping a more equitable society. The quarter also reminds us that we must recommit ourselves today to the ongoing fight for equality and justice for all.”
The Patsy T. Mink quarters are now available for purchase on the U.S. Mint’s website.
