Houston: For the first time in American history, Lady Liberty - a national symbol generally depicted as a white woman - will be portrayed as an African-American in the new $100 gold coin "to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States".
The new $100 coin was unveiled by Elisa Basnight, US Mint chief of staff. "As we, as a nation, continue to evolve, so does liberty's representation," she said at the ceremony unveiling the new coin.
The new 24-karat gold coin, which is set to be released in April in honor of the United States Mint's 225th anniversary, is one of a series of new, diverse commemorative coins the Mint will unveil in the coming years.
"The future depictions of Lady Liberty, will also feature designs to represent Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Indian-Americans, and others to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States," she said.
"We live in a nation that affords us the opportunity to dream big and try to accomplish the seemingly impossible," Basnight said.
Trump blasts black rights icon, who said he is not a 'legitimate' president
However, it is ironic that the Mint's announcement comes even as US president-elect Donald Trump courted controversy after he blasted African-American activist John Lewis, for saying he doesn't see Trump as a "legitimate president".
Since the passage of the Coinage Act in 1792, all coins are required to feature an "impression emblematic of liberty," in either words or images.