Duke Ellington Imprinted On U.S. Quarter

US jazz legend Duke Ellington has become the first African American to appear solo on a US coin in common circulation. The US Mint in Washington yesterday (Feb 24) held a celebration to mark the release of the new quarter-dollar coin. Duke Ellington, who lived from 1899 till 1974, was already considered a jazz legend during his lifetime. The first African American to feature on a circulating coin was York, a slave who was depicted alongside 19th century explorers Lewis and Clark. A spokesperson for the US Mint said there had been other African Americans on special commemorative coins.