Anna May Wong, an actress, is scheduled to become the first Asian American to appear on US money.
She will be featured on American quarters as part of an attempt to highlight prominent women.
Wong, who is widely regarded as Hollywood’s first Chinese American film star, is the coin’s fifth and final female face this year.
On Monday, the quarter will go into public circulation.
On one side, it will depict President George Washington, and on the other, Wong.
Wong was described as “a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors”.
“This quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments by Anna May Wong, who overcame challenges and obstacles she faced during her lifetime,” she said.
Wong was born in Los Angeles to Chinese immigrants in 1905. Her real name was Wong Liu Tsong, but she later acquired the stage name Anna May Wong, which was made by combining her English and family names.
She had her first role as an extra in the film The Red Lantern when she was 14 years old, and she continued to play minor roles until her starring role in The Toll of the Sea in 1922.
Throughout her career, she appeared in over 60 films, including silent pictures and one of the first in technicolor.
Wong was also the first Asian American lead actress in a US television show, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, where she portrayed a Chinese investigator.
After experiencing discrimination in the United States, she relocated to Europe to work in English, French, and German films.
She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, but died the following year at the age of 56.
Gemma Chan, well known for her roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Marvel’s Eternals, will play Wong in a forthcoming biopic on the actor’s life.
Beginning this year, the American Women Quarters Program will showcase five women each year through 2025. Edith Kanaka’ole, a native Hawaiian hula teacher, has been recognized as one of the 2023 choices.