New Jersey Icon Memorialized On U.S. Quarter

Newly issued by the United States Mint, this "queen" has been memorialized in the U.S. Quarter. Who Is The New Jersey Icon Memorialized? As part of the American Women Quarters Program, originally launched in 2022, three-time Emmy Award-winning singer Celia Cruz is available NOW. As reported by NorthJersey.com, The "Queen of Salsa", is the first ever Afro-Latina to grace a U.S. Quarter, and the 14th woman overall. She was originally born in Cuba, but was a long-time resident of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and is one of the most popular Latin acts of the 20th Century. In addition to her 3 American Grammies, her numerous honors include 4 Latin Grammies and the Presidential Medal of Arts. She also has multiple lifetime achievement awards. Cruz’s numerous honors and awards include three American and four Latin Grammy awards, the Presidential Medal of Arts, and countless lifetime achievement awards. What Is Etched On The Coin? The coin's "tails" side has a depiction of Cruz smiling in a rumba-style dress. To the right, is her catchphrase "AZÚCAR" inscribed. "AZÚCAR", which translates to "Sugar", was interjected into a lot of her performances. According to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the phrase took on a greater meaning as a means of remembrance of enslaved Africans who worked on Cuban sugar plantations. Cruz died of brain cancer in July 2003. in 2022, the Garden State State of New Jersey honored her with a special tribute. Today, The Forked River service area plaza on the Garden State Parkway has been rebranded as the Celia Cruz Service Area in her honor.