The renowned Cuban singer Celia Cruz has made history as the first Afro-Latina woman featured on U.S. currency.

The “Queen of Salsa” is among five women selected to grace a quarter this year by the U.S. Mint, which runs a program to recognize the contributions of women in the United States.

“Celia Cruz’s impact extended far beyond her musical talent,” stated Ventris Gibson, Mint director, in a press release. “She proudly showcased her Cuban heritage, empowering Afro-Latino Americans to embrace their culture, making her a vital and lasting cultural figure.”

Cruz, who passed away in 2003 in New Jersey at the age of 77, is the 14th woman recognized by the U.S. Mint’s American Quarters Program since 2022 and the fourth woman on a quarter for 2024.

Omer Pardillo-Cid, who manages Cruz’s estate, remarked that the U.S. Mint’s acknowledgment would have delighted the late singer, noting she was a “simple and humble woman.”

“The term ‘unique’ is often used to describe Celia Cruz, but it truly captures her essence: unique and eternal,” said Pardillo-Cid.

Here’s what to know.

Quarter designed with Celia Cruz’s ‘dynamic’ spirit, designer explains

The quarter features Cruz on the tails side, where she is shown with a radiant smile in a rumba costume. Her famous catchphrase “¡AZÚCAR!” (“sugar” in English) is etched on the right side of the coin.

Phebe Hemphill, a U.S. Mint medallic artist, expressed that the design aimed to reflect Cruz’s vibrant personality.

“I watched her perform in her iconic rumba dress and wanted to craft a design that truly represented her greatness and energy,” Hemphill shared.

Cruz’s songs like “La Vida es Carnival” beautifully intertwine themes of joy and hardship, drawing inspiration from her life experiences in Cuba before she left the country in 1960 following Fidel Castro’s rise to power. Her popularity blossomed while she was in Cuba during the 1950s and continued to flourish after she became a political refugee in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

In 1990, Cruz earned her first of three Grammy Awards and achieved numerous accolades before her battle with brain cancer led to her passing in July 2003, according to NorthJersey.com, a part of the YSL News Network.

Celia Cruz quarters now in ‘circulation’

The coin celebrating the memory of the “immortal” singer started circulating on Monday, meaning you might soon find Cruz’s coin in your spare change.

The Cruz quarter is also available for purchase in rolls or bags online.

Celia Cruz quarter receives ‘love’ online

The U.S. Embassy in Cuba acknowledged this “historic moment” in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing that the release of Cruz’s coin is “great news” for fans of Latin music and Cruz herself.

“Celia is the inaugural Afro-Latino figure on a U.S. coin. Her image will be among twenty women showcased on the reverse side of 25 cent coins as part of the American Women Quarters Program,” they stated.

Many expressed excitement about acquiring Cruz’s quarter, describing the occasion as “iconic.”