WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States Mint launched a new coin Tuesday featuring jazz legend Duke Ellington, making him the first African-American to appear by himself on a circulating U.S. coin.

The U.S. Mint is celebrating its 225th anniversary by minting a commemorative coin which depicts Lady Liberty as an African American. The 24-karat gold coin's heads side shows Lady Liberty in ...

The coin was minted during the late third century ... part of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. The founding director of the Hutchins Center is Henry Louis Gates ...

African Americans are still joined at family tables ... showered with cigarettes, chocolate, and coins that jingled off their steel helmets. But when the parade was over, the soldiers were back ...