Dr. Vera Rubin, a Cornell graduate whose research confirmed the existence of dark matter, will be featured on a U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program, according to Cornellians. The U.S. Mint initiative, in partnership with the Smithsonian, recognizes five women annually.
Rubin, who passed away in 2016, made groundbreaking contributions to astronomy despite facing sexism early in her career. She was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal.
She joins Althea Gibson, Juliette Gordon Low, Stacey Park Milbern, and Ida B. Wells in the 2025 quarter series. Rubin is believed to be the first Cornell alum and only astronomer ever featured on a circulating U.S. coin.
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