Sir Duke is money
Duke Ellington becomes first African American on U.S. coin
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Jazz legend Duke Ellington is the first African American to appear on an American coin, the U.S. Mint says in introducing the latest in its line of state-themed quarters.
The District of Columbia coin honoring Duke Ellington will be introduced Tuesday at the Smithsonian.
Ellington won the honor by a vote of D.C. residents, beating out abolitionist Frederick Douglas and astronomer Benjamin Banneker.
Also on the coin is the phrase “justice for all.” The Mint rejected the first inscription choice of D.C. voters, which was “taxation without representation,” in protest of the District’s lack of voting representation in Congress.</em>
Heh.
“art_duke_coin”
