Anna May Wong was the greatest Asian actress in Hollywood history when the US Mint issued a quarter with her face on it (24 oct 2022). it was the 5th in its American Women Quarters series.
I long admired the actress when I was able to meet her in the summer of 1960. she died early the following year. see my entry of 18 may 2014 for the story of our meeting. over the years my admiration continued. I dedicatd the poem "The Constantinople Death Express" (in New Notes) to her. more recently (& personally) is the poem "Postcard from Cleveland" (see my entry for 12 nov 2025).
on learning of the quarter I began checking my change. to date I have 17. they were in a little baggie but I knew they needed to be elevatd to the status of an art piece. today I rememberd a small silk Chinese coin purse my friend & library colleague Wendy Ma gave me (circa 1980). that is their permanent home. although I wd never subtract from their number it's possible to add one. however I no longer see them in my change.
as the piece is now it cd've been in either (or both) of 2 of my collections. Current Seas appeard online at beatsupernova.com in 2011. it brought together "The Century Dimes" & other pieces in which I use money. Filling Boxes & other spaces was a book from Toucan Press in 2024.
