Lady Liberty Depicted as a Black Woman on U.S. Currency for the First Time

Lady Liberty will be depicted as a Black woman for the first time on United States currency.

The new $100 coin, designed by Justin Kunz, was unveiled to commemorate the U.S. Mint and Treasury's 225th anniversary.

The woman is featured wearing a crown of stars on her hair that appears to be braided.

The Coinage Act in 1792 requires all coins to feature an "impression emblematic of liberty." This can be either words or an image.

This 24-karat cold coin is the first in a series from the U.S. Mint.
"The 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin is the first in a series of 24-karat gold coins that will feature designs which depict an allegorical Liberty in a variety of contemporary forms-including designs representing Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Indian-Americans among others-to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States," a statement from the agency reads.

"As we as a nation continue to evolve, so does liberty's representation," said Elisa Basnight, U.S. Mint chief of staff, at a ceremony unveiling the new coin. "We live in a nation that affords us the opportunity to dream big and try to accomplish the seemingly impossible."

The coin is set to be released in April and is meant primarily for collectors.

The 1-ounce coin will be struck in .999 fine 24-karat gold at the West Point Mint facility in New York.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced Harriet Tubman will appear on the $20 bill last April. That currency will not be available until 2030.