When I look at the younger women in my life, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of hope. Before I returned to our family business at Quicksilver Mint, I spent years as a teacher and a mom. This gave me the privilege of getting to know a younger generation that seems so much wiser than I was at their age. They embrace their strength with a quiet confidence that’s inspiring to witness. They seem less apologetic for simply being themselves and more supportive of each other. That spirit gives me hope—and it reminds me of a symbol that once carried another generation’s courage into battle: the rose.
The heraldic rose carries the weight of history, and its connection to women’s rights is a story worth remembering. Long before it was tied to the vote, the rose was a powerful emblem in European heraldry. It was at the center of the War of the Roses in 15th-century England, a dynastic conflict between the House of York (whose emblem was a white rose) and the House of Lancaster (represented by a red rose). The Tudor rose famously combined both, symbolizing reconciliation. This tradition of using the rose in political struggles set the stage for its decisive role in America centuries later.
For decades, suffragists fought tirelessly for the right to vote, believing it was an essential part of a fair democracy. Many initially hoped their rights would be secured through the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. But the Amendment did not explicitly grant women the right to vote, and so began a decades-long battle.
The rose became a key emblem in this fight. During the decisive ratification of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee in 1920, suffragists wore yellow roses to show their support, while opponents wore red. That moment—when a simple flower came to represent a nation’s turning point—transformed the rose from a heraldic emblem into a symbol of solidarity, courage, and women’s empowerment.
Today, the rose still speaks. It is not only a symbol of beauty but also resilience, solidarity, and progress. Across history, it has carried us from conflict to unity to empowerment, making it one of the most enduring symbols of women’s voices and strength. Whether in art, activism, or jewelry, the rose continues to remind us of the belief that change is possible.
At Quicksilver Mint, our jewelry is more than beautiful—it carries meaning. The symbols we mint are time-tested emblems that stay relevant because of the stories and values behind them. Wearing the rose today connects us to generations of women who fought before us, while inspiring hope for those still to come.