The late artist Celia Cruz, widely known as the Queen of Salsa, will be honored on an American coin. She will be the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S. currency. The coin design features the image of Celia Cruz on the back, wearing a rumba style dress and displaying a dazzling smile, with her famous slogan “¡AZÚCAR!” inscribed next to her  name.

According to NBC News, the  U.S. Mint unveiled  the design of the Celia Cruz coin, along with four other notable American women, as part of the American Women Quarters Program of 2024. These coins were created to honor women who have made significant contributions to the history of the United States.

Celia Cruz, a Cuban megastar, achieved prominence and celebrity in the Latin music world, helping to increase the popularity of salsa and Latin music in general. She has released more than 80 albums, 23 of which went gold, and has received several awards, including three Grammy Awards and four Latin Grammys. In 1994, she was awarded the President’s National Medal of Arts and received a posthumous lifetime achievement award at the 2016 Grammys.

The announcement of the coin’s design generated excitement on social media, with many users expressing their admiration and support. In addition to Celia Cruz, other notable women will be honored on the 2024 coins, including Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the Rev. Pauli Murray and Zitkala-Ša, still according to NBC.

Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson emphasized the importance of these beautiful designs to recognize the achievements of the honored women and enrich the nation’s history through numismatic art.

The women honorees were selected by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with institutions such as the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, the National Women’s History Museum, and the Congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus. This honor highlights the relevance and recognition of the significant contributions of remarkable women to the history and culture of the United States.