2024-S Pauli Murray, Silver Proof

The 2024-S silver proof Pauli Murray quarter was struck in San Francisco to a mintage of 380,000 pieces for distribution in the United States Mint's Silver Proof Set and the Silver Quarters Proof Set. Pauli Murray, born in 1910 and a graduate of Hunter College, Howard Law School, and Yale Law School, spent her career proving that the categories of race and sex discrimination were intellectually inseparable. The Supreme Court eventually accepted that argument through Reed v. Reed and the line of cases Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued in the 1970s, all of which drew on Murray's earlier scholarship. The 380,000 figure is consistent with recent silver proof releases under the American Women program and reflects a collector base that values the .999 fine silver content as much as the design.

The reverse, designed by Artistic Infusion Program artist Robert Hoge and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, takes on a distinct character on silver planchets. The white-on-white contrast of frosted device against mirrored field reveals more of the sculptor's modeling than the clad version, particularly in the rendering of Murray's clerical collar and the inscription drawn from her writing. Specifications differ from circulating issues: .999 fine silver composition, weight 6.343 grams, diameter 24.3 millimeters, reeded edge, San Francisco mintmark on the obverse. Authentication diagnostics include weight to specification within standard tolerance, full edge reeding consistent across the circumference, and the characteristic frost depth of modern Mint dual-finish proof production. Holder verification through Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) is standard for resale.

Like all proof entries in this catalog, the silver proof carries Regular rarity classification regardless of its lower mintage relative to clad proofs, because rarity is conveyed in the narrative rather than the badge. Original Mint silver proof set packaging adds provenance for the highest-grade examples, and bullion-aware buyers value the .999 fine silver content as a price floor beyond the numismatic premium. For series-wide context see the Washington Quarters (American Women) series history.