Bellevue 425-454-1283 · Lynnwood 425-672-2646 · Issaquah 425-392-0450 · Tacoma 253-328-4014
The year was 1893. Chicago had beaten out New York and Philadelphia in holding the World’s Fair Columbian Exposition, a fair to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival into the New World. There was a need to raise funds for the massive event and a new commemorative quarter was created.
Susan B. Anthony, aware of the upcoming expo, petitioned for a ‘Board of Lady Managers’ at the expo to oversee and handle woman’s involvement and funds were granted for one. Anthony felt the fair was a great platform to advocate for women’s rights. Bertha Palmer, a prominent advocate for women’s suffrage, was chosen as the board’s president.
Mrs. Palmer petitioned for 40,000 commemorative quarters to be made to sell at the fair and she was granted them. But who to put on the front? For Palmer, the decision was easy. Because Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand had financed Christopher Columbus’ expedition to the New World, the Queen was chosen to grace the obverse.
Mint engraver Charles E. Barber, ignoring Palmer’s request for a female artist to sketch the designs, chose artist Kevin Cox to produce the drawings. The reverse featured a fictitious woman while the obverse showcased Queen Isabella.
The coins were sold for $1.00 at the fair, 6 weeks after it had opened. Unfortunately, very few sold and over 15,000 were returned to the Philadelphia Mint to be melted. Of the 24,214 coins that survived, it is rare to find any over a MS64 grade.
