The United States Mint has unveiled a new quarter coin honoring Dr. Vera Rubin, a pioneering astronomer who made groundbreaking discoveries about galaxy rotation and dark matter. Released as part of the American Women Quarters Program, the coin features a portrait of Rubin gazing upward against a spiral galaxy background.
Rubin’s research in the 1970s provided key evidence for dark matter’s existence, comprising an estimated 85% of the universe’s total mass. Her observations showed that stars at the edges of galaxies rotated faster than expected, pointing to unseen mass within the galaxy.
The coin’s reverse features Rubin’s image and inscriptions highlighting her work on dark matter, while the obverse side retains the series’ standard design featuring George Washington, based on Laura Gardin Fraser’s 1932 artwork. The coin was released as part of the American Women Quarters Program, recognizing notable women from US history across various disciplines.
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/vera-rubin-us-mint-quarter