Duke Ellington becomes first African-American on U.S. coin
The United States Mint launched a new coin Tuesday featuring jazz legend Duke Ellington, making him the first African-American to appear by himself on a circulating U.S. coin.
Ellington, the composer of classics including “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” appears on the “tails” side of the new D.C. quarter. George Washington is on the “heads” side, as is usual with U.S. quarters.
The coin was issued to celebrate Ellington’s birthplace, the District of Columbia…
Ellington won the honor by a vote of D.C. residents, beating out abolitionist Frederick Douglass and astronomer Benjamin Banneker…
Ellington was born in the district in 1899 and composed more than 3,000 songs, including “Satin Doll,” “Perdido” and “Don’t Get Around Much Any More.” “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” helped usher in the swing era of jazz.
Ellington really was the Duke. An ambassador of the best of American original music. A kindly, disciplined spokesman for the creative side of America’s Black community in the time when racism ws the law of the land.
Actually George Washington Carver was on the 50 cent piece in the 1940′s
joey porter
February 24, 2009 at 9:44 pm
That was a commemorative. This is the first such coin released into general circulation. RTFA, bro’.
keaneo
February 24, 2009 at 10:07 pm
And Booker T Washington
joey porter
February 24, 2009 at 9:54 pm
That was a commemorative. This is the first time such a coin is being released into general circulation. RTFA, bro’.
keaneo
February 24, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I love Ellington and all that he made possible, but for a slightly more cynical post on this subject, check out http://www.jazzlives.wordpress.com. “Only a quarter?” say I. Cheers! Michael Steinman
jazzlives
February 25, 2009 at 8:46 am
I know this is different because it’s a circulating coin, but another African American on a commemorative coin was Jackie Robinson in 1997. He was actually on two coins – $1 siler and $5 gold.
coin collecting
February 25, 2009 at 4:01 pm