US Mint Releases Declaration of Independence Quarter for Semiquincentennial

The United States Mint began shipping the new Declaration of Independence quarter to the Federal Reserve on June 1, 2026, for nationwide distribution to financial institutions. Featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse, the coin is part of the Semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Program celebrating 250 years of American liberty. This program, the most significant redesign of circulating coins in a century, was authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which Donald J. Trump signed into law in January 2021.

Beyond the standard release, the Mint produced 250,000 limited-edition quarters featuring a special July 4th privy mark. These coins, which lack a mint mark, were mixed with standard quarters and distributed to banks for the Fourth of July holiday. The broader 2026 program includes updated designs for nickels, dimes, and half dollars, along with five specific quarter designs: the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Gettysburg Address.

On June 24, the Mint hosted a celebration at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. During the event, Mint Director Paul Hollis and Treasurer Brandon Beach delivered remarks highlighting the coin's role as a link to the nation's founding principles. The program also includes other recent releases, such as an Emerging Liberty Dime and a half-dollar depicting the Statue of Liberty.