Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in March 1822. After her escape, she subsequently rescued approximately 70 enslaved people using the Underground Railroad. Tubman cemented her place in history as an American abolitionist and social activist.
To celebrate Tubman’s legacy, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is partnering with the United States Department of the Treasury to mint a series of commemorative coins. Introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and John Katko (R-NY) and signed into law by President Biden on August 4, 2022, the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act will introduce a series of three coins created to honor Tubman’s achievements as a conductor of the Underground Railroad.
“With Harriet Tubman’s bicentennial approaching, the Freedom Center was asked to participate in several projects honoring her legacy,” says Woodrow Keown, Jr., president of the Freedom Center. “We decided to get involved with the commemorative coins given Ms. Tubman’s status as an Underground Railroad icon.”
Keown and his team at the Freedom Center serve as consultants for developing the coins. They will provide historical information and context, as well as design concepts. The U.S. legal coin will be issued in $5, $1 and half-dollar gold and silver coins.
“Ms. Tubman lived by seven core values: faith, freedom, family, community, self-determination, equality and social justice. We’re incorporating those principles into every idea,” Keown says.
Final design concepts are being prepared for submission to the Commission of Fine Arts. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury will determine which designs to use later this year.
“This is such a unique opportunity to celebrate Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy,” says Stephanie Lampkin, Ph.D., curator for the Freedom Center. “The history of the Underground Railroad is full of stories about bravery, strength and determination. Ms. Tubman exemplified all of those characteristics, and we hope that by sharing her story, we will encourage visitors of the Freedom Center to take action and create change in their own lives. It’s such an honor to be a part of this exciting moment in history.”
Procter & Gamble is supporting the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coins’ launch by serving as the lead sponsor for programming that will generate coin sales. The Freedom Center will also partner with the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York, to display artifacts from Tubman’s life.
“We would like to highlight attributes about Ms. Tubman that people may not know,” Keown says. “In addition to her work with the Underground Railroad, she had an important role in generating gender equality during the Women’s Suffrage movement. She was also a military leader and instrumental in the Combahee River Raid, which saw the rescue of more than 750 enslaved people.”
The Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coins are scheduled for release by the U.S. Mint on January 1, 2024, and will remain on sale until December 31, 2024. The Freedom Center will receive a portion of the proceeds from the coins’ surcharges.
Want to learn more about Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy? Visit freedomcenter.org to learn more.