The United States has four major coins. They are the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. One is getting a big change. On October 24, the U.S. started pressing a new design into the U.S. quarter. The coin features actor Anna May Wong. She is the first Asian American to star on American !
Wong was born in California in 1905. Her birth name was Wong Liu Tsong. It meant “Frosted Yellow Willows” in Chinese. But her parents also called her Anna May.
Young Anna May would use her lunch money to go to the movies. At age 9, she decided she wanted to be a movie star. Wong was often bullied because of her race. But that didn’t stop her. She became the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood!
Wong was cast in her first role at age 14. She was in the movie The Red Lantern. After that, she landed other small roles. Wong earned her first leading role in 1922. It was for the silent film The Toll of the Sea. Wong appeared in more than 60 movies.
Wong died in 1961. She was 56. People still remember the movie star. She inspired many Asian Americans in film. Now, Wong’s legacy will also live on through money.
Wong appears on the of the quarter. The coin has a close-up of Wong’s face. Her head rests on her hand. Small light bulbs surround her image. They resemble movie sign lights. Artist Emily Damstra created the design. George Washington still appears on the of the quarter.
Wong’s quarter may be worth 25 cents. But it will be worth much more to women’s history.
Updated October 24, 2022, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Alexa Tirapelli
