Voto Para La Mujer: Numismatic View

The Voto para la Mujer quarter is part of the American Women Quarters Program, issued by the U.S. Mint starting in 2022. This program honors notable women and their contributions to American history and culture.

The “Voto para la Mujer” design was released in 2024 and celebrates the right of women to vote in Puerto Rico.

• Obverse (front): Standard across the series, featuring George Washington’s right-facing portrait (sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser in 1932).

• Reverse (back): Displays “Voto para la Mujer” (“Vote for Women” in Spanish) with a depiction honoring the Puerto Rican suffrage movement. It symbolizes the activism and advocacy that led to women gaining the right to vote on the island in the early 20th century.

• Program Context: One of the five quarter designs released in 2024 under the American Women Quarters Program.

These coins were minted for circulation, so most are worth face value (25 cents). However, uncirculated rolls, bags, and proof versions sold by the U.S. Mint carry collector premiums, usually a few dollars per coin depending on condition. Graded examples in top condition (MS or PF 70) may be worth more.

Voto Para La Mujer Explanation

“Voto para la Mujer” is Spanish for “Vote for Women” or more precisely “Women’s Vote.” On the U.S. quarter design, it refers to the Puerto Rican women’s suffrage movement, which fought for and won the right for women to participate in elections.

Historical Background

In Puerto Rico, women did not initially share the same voting rights as men. After years of activism, in 1929 literate women were granted the right to vote, but this excluded much of the female population.

In 1935, suffrage was extended universally to all women, regardless of literacy.

The phrase “Voto para la Mujer” became a rallying cry during this movement, appearing in campaigns and advocacy materials.

On the Quarter

The U.S. Mint included this phrase on a 2024 American Women Quarter to honor that struggle and to highlight the broader story of women’s suffrage in U.S. territories, not only on the mainland. The design serves as both a tribute to Puerto Rican activists and a reminder that the fight for equal voting rights had many local battles across different communities.

Mint Marks

P — Philadelphia Mint

D — Denver Mint

S — San Francisco Mint

P and D coins were produced for circulation, so these are the quarters you might find in pocket change.

S coins were struck in San Francisco. These include proof versions (with mirror-like surfaces) and uncirculated collector versions that were sold directly by the U.S. Mint in sets or rolls.

All mint marks appear on the obverse (front) of the coin, to the right of George Washington’s portrait, just above the designer’s initials.

So, while the design and message “Voto para la Mujer” are the same on all coins, the mint mark distinguishes their origin and affects rarity, especially for proof coins.

Errors

Off-Center Strikes

Sometimes the blank planchet isn’t centered correctly when struck by the dies. The result is a design shifted to one side, leaving a crescent-shaped blank area. Minor shifts of 5–10% carry small premiums, but dramatic off-centers with the full date visible can bring strong prices.

Double Strikes

If the coin fails to eject after the first strike and receives a second, the design overlaps or appears twice. On a “Voto para la Mujer” quarter, this might mean Roosevelt’s portrait or the Spanish text doubling. Clear, separated double strikes are rare and highly collectible.

Clipped Planchets

These errors happen during the blanking process when a new planchet overlaps a previously cut area. The struck coin ends up with a curved or straight “bite” missing from its edge. Collectors value large and dramatic clips, especially if the design remains intact.

Broadstrikes

If the collar that normally restrains the coin during striking fails, the design spreads outward, creating a wider coin with weak or missing rims. Broadstrikes are instantly recognizable and draw premiums, especially on newer commemorative quarters.

Die Cracks and Cuds

As dies wear, small cracks can form. These transfer onto coins as raised lines, often across lettering or design details. In extreme cases, a piece of the die breaks away, producing a cud — a blob of extra metal that distorts part of the design. A cud on the “Voto para la Mujer” text or central imagery would be very collectible.

Struck-Through Errors

If grease, wire, fabric, or other debris comes between the die and planchet, part of the design may appear faint, flattened, or missing. These are highly visual errors and usually unique, which boosts their appeal.

Wrong Planchet Errors

Though rare, a quarter can be struck on a blank meant for another denomination or even a foreign coin. If a “Voto para la Mujer” design were struck on a nickel or dime planchet, the coin would appear undersized or with different coloration. These unusual errors can be worth hundreds or more.

Names Variation

Collectors, dealers, and the U.S. Mint may use slightly different naming variations. Here are the main ones you’ll encounter.

Official Name

American Women Quarter – “Voto para la Mujer” (2024)

This is the U.S. Mint’s formal designation, placing it within the American Women Quarters Program.

Common Collector Variations

• “Voto para la Mujer” Quarter — the simplest and most widely used name.

• Puerto Rico Suffrage Quarter — emphasizes the historical theme rather than the inscription.

• Women’s Vote Quarter — English translation of the Spanish legend.

• Puerto Rican Women’s Rights Quarter — highlights the broader movement being commemorated.

Abbreviated and Market Variations

• AWQ “Voto Quarter” — shorthand used in online listings, especially bulk sales.

• 2024 Puerto Rico Quarter — used informally, though it can be confusing since Puerto Rico also appears on the 2009 DC & Territories series.

• Vote for Women Quarter — direct English translation sometimes used by sellers who avoid Spanish titles.

Numismatic Catalog Style

In coin catalogs, it will often appear as 2024-P, 2024-D, 2024-S “Voto para la Mujer” (AWQ) — with mint marks added for precision.

So in summary, while the U.S. Mint calls it the “Voto para la Mujer” American Women Quarter, collectors may also know it as the Puerto Rico Suffrage Quarter or simply the Women’s Vote Quarter.

2024 “Voto Para La Mujer” Quarter vs 2009 Puerto Rico Quarter

2009 Puerto Rico Quarter

Program: Part of the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters program.

Obverse: Standard Washington portrait used on all circulating quarters from 1999–2009.

Reverse Design: Features a historic sentry box (garita) from San Juan’s fortress, with a hibiscus flower to the right. The inscriptions read PUERTO RICO, ISLA DEL ENCANTO (“Island of Enchantment”), E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the year 2009.

Theme: Celebrates Puerto Rico’s cultural and architectural heritage.

2024 “Voto para la Mujer” Quarter

Program: Part of the American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program, which runs from 2022–2025.

Obverse: New right-facing Washington portrait by Laura Gardin Fraser, used only on AWQ issues.

Reverse Design: Features imagery tied to Puerto Rico’s women’s suffrage movement, with the bold inscription VOTO PARA LA MUJER (“Vote for Women”). The design symbolizes activism and the eventual granting of full voting rights to women in 1935.

Theme: Commemorates political equality and the fight for voting rights in Puerto Rico.

How to Tell Them Apart Instantly

1. Obverse portrait:

• 2009 shows the traditional left-facing Washington design.

• 2024 shows the AWQ right-facing Washington portrait.

2. Reverse imagery:

• 2009 has a fortress sentry box and hibiscus flower.

• 2024 has suffrage-related imagery with the Spanish phrase VOTO PARA LA MUJER.

3. Program context:

• 2009 is from the short six-coin DC & Territories series.

• 2024 is from the larger American Women Quarters series.

In short: 2009 = fortress + flower; 2024 = suffrage + “Voto para la Mujer.”

Conclusion

The 2024 “Voto para la Mujer” quarter is a symbol of Puerto Rico’s fight for equality and a tribute to the women who secured the right to vote. While circulation pieces will remain plentiful and close to face value, real collector appeal lies in proof versions, high-grade examples, and any dramatic mint errors that surface.