Women Behind the Dies: Unsung Female Engravers Who Shaped U.S. Coinage

Throughout history, coinage has served not only as currency but also as a canvas of culture. From ancient Rome coins to modern commemoratives, engravers have preserved icons and milestones in metal. Yet, despite the prominence of women’s faces on many U.S. coins, their names behind the designs often go uncelebrated. This article spotlights pioneering women whose artistry defined American coinage. Continue reading to learn more about the Female Engravers Who Shaped U.S. Coinage.

Female Pioneers in Coin Artistry

Laura Gardin Fraser (1889–1966)

• First female U.S. coin designer: Fraser broke ground with the 1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar, depicting Governor Thomas Kilby and Admiral Franklin Buchannan.

• Legacy revived: Her proposed 1931 Washington quarter design was ultimately adopted in the 2022 American Women Quarters program—over 90 years later, honoring her classical style on U.S. circulating coinage. en.wikipedia.org

    1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar: AUCTION RECORD: $36,225 • MS67 • 08-01-2004

Brenda Putnam (1890–1975)

• Artistic refinement: A sculptor and medallist, Putnam designed the 1936 Cincinnati Musical Center Half Dollar. Despite early criticism of commercialism, her portrait of Stephen Foster showcases nuanced relief work.

• Medallic influence: Beyond coins, Putnam’s medals and public sculptures elevated women’s status in a male-dominated art form.

     1936 Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar - AUCTION RECORD: $25,875 • MS67 • 08-01-2004

Gertrude K. Lathrop (1896–1986)

• Naturalistic detail: Her 1936 Albany Charter Half Dollar—featuring a beaver and maple branches—imbued commemoratives with organic realism, drawing on American Renaissance sensibilities.

1936 Albany Charter Half Dollar - AUCTION RECORD: $20,125 • MS68 • 03-25-2004

Juliette May Fraser (1887–1983)

• Cultural storytelling: For the 1937 Hawaii Sesquicentennial Half Dollar, Fraser blended Art Deco with traditional Hawaiian motifs, broadening U.S. coin narratives to include indigenous perspectives.

1937 Hawaii Sesquicentennial Half Dollar - AUCTION RECORD: $96,000 • MS67 • 08-31-2022

Modern Voices, Lasting Legacies

Elizabeth Jones

• Historic appointment: In 1981, Jones became the first (and to date only) woman Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint—a post held by just a dozen individuals since 1792.

• Olympic artistry: Her bold modernism shines on the 1983 Los Angeles Silver Dollar, merging dynamic composition with high-relief execution.

Donna Weaver

• State Quarters & Beyond: As part of the Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), Weaver’s designs for the State Quarters and Westward Journey Nickels translate complex histories into accessible imagery.

Susan Gamble

• Heritage in relief: Gamble’s painterly approach graced multiple Presidential $1 coins and State Quarters, emphasizing human stories through sculptural depth.

Phebe Hemphill

• Contemporary master: A medallic artist at the Philadelphia Mint since 2006, Hemphill is one of only seven sculptors-engravers at that facility who create the reliefs for U.S. coins and medals pafa.org.

• Portfolio breadth: From the America the Beautiful series to Congressional Gold Medals, Hemphill’s meticulous style has defined 21st-century U.S. numismatic art.

The American Women Quarters Program

In 2022, the U.S. Mint launched the American Women Quarters (AWQ) series to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment by featuring 20 trailblazing women (five per year through 2025).

• Total designs: 20 women honored, with five unique reverses issued annually (2022–2025) en.wikipedia.org.

• Mintage scale: Each design sees prodigious production—ranging from 200 million to over 500 million coins per release, making them among the most widely circulated modern commemoratives time.com.

• Diverse honorees: From Maya Angelou to Celia Cruz, the program spotlights contributions across suffrage, science, arts, and civil rights.

Broader Impact & Collecting Today

• AIP growth: The Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program expanded by 25 artists in 2023 (from 13 to 38), broadening the pool of outside talent shaping our coinage coinworld.com.

• Collector interest: Coins designed by women—especially those in the AWQ series—have seen heightened demand, often commanding premiums on the secondary market.

• Sourcing with Bullion Shark: Many of these designs are readily available through certified dealers. Whether you seek an original Laura Gardin Fraser half dollar or a modern Phebe Hemphill bullion piece, building a “Women Behind the Dies” collection celebrates both artistry and history.

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*This information is for educational purposes only. Bullion Shark is not responsible for any factual errors that may be contained in this post. This information is not intended for investment purposes. Please consult an investment advisor before investing.