Nina Otero-Warren

Nina Otero-Warren (1881–1965) was a leader who guided the women’s suffrage movement and education in New Mexico. In an era when women could not vote, she raised her voice, saying that “women too should be able to cast a ballot.” At the same time, she was a person who devoted herself to education so that children could learn properly.

On the reverse of the coin, along with the image of Nina Otero-Warren, are engraved three yucca flowers. And it holds the phrase “Voto para la mujer” (Votes for women) in Spanish. The yucca is a flower that symbolizes New Mexico, representing the land where she lived and was active.

This phrase written in Spanish shows exactly the heart of the movement she led. Because New Mexico had many Spanish-speaking residents, she made known the importance of suffrage to people in both English and Spanish. The effort to reach more people is held within this short phrase.

In an era when women’s rights were rarely recognized, her stepping forward to raise her voice took great courage. She worked for a long time for her local community not only in suffrage but also in the field of education, becoming an example that women can be active in public roles.

Gazing at the yucca flowers and the Spanish phrase on the coin, we recall the steps of one person who fought for women’s rights in New Mexico, where different languages and cultures came together. Nina Otero-Warren is remembered today as a figure who represents that land and that era.