The U.S. Mint says the 2026 Semiquincentennial “Declaration of Independence Quarter” will start shipping June 1 to the Federal Reserve for distribution to commercial banks, as the nationwide 250th anniversary coin program rolls out new Quarter Dollar designs.
For collectors and everyday users who still keep loose change in a jar. next week could bring a small but unmistakable jolt of history. The U.S. Mint says a new 2026 Quarter Dollar—honoring America’s 250th anniversary and specifically the Declaration of Independence—will begin circulating soon after it is shipped for distribution.
In a May 25 news release, the Mint said it will begin shipping the 2026 Semiquincentennial quarter to the Federal Reserve on Monday, June 1. The Fed will then distribute the coins to commercial banks and financial institutions.
The Declaration of Independence Quarter is the third of five new Quarter Dollar designs planned for 2026. On the front. the obverse design features Thomas Jefferson. identified as the author of the Declaration of Independence and as the third President of the United States. It also includes inscriptions of “E Pluribus Unum,” “In God We Trust,” and “1776 ~ 2026.”.
The reverse design centers on the Liberty Bell ringing, with the bell’s crack visible. That side carries the inscriptions “The Declaration of Independence,” “Quarter Dollar,” “Liberty,” and “United States of America.”
The Quarter Dollar program for the 250th anniversary isn’t stopping at one design. The other 25-cent coins in the Semiquincentennial series include the Mayflower Compact Quarter, the Revolutionary War Quarter, the U.S. Constitution Quarter, and the Gettysburg Address Quarter.
The Mayflower Compact Quarter went into circulation in January. Its design shows two Pilgrims—one man and one woman—embracing beneath a banner reading “E Pluribus Unum. ” which the Mint translates as “out of many. one.” The Revolutionary War Quarter began circulating in March and features George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Two more are still waiting for their turn. The U.S. Constitution quarter, which features a portrait of James Madison, has not yet gone into circulation. The Gettysburg Address quarter. also not yet in circulation. features Abraham Lincoln on the front. with two clasped hands on the back and the inscription “A New Nation Conceived in Liberty.”.
The Mint’s 250th anniversary coin lineup extends beyond quarters. It includes a dime with the face of Liberty, a nickel with Thomas Jefferson and a “1776∽2026” inscription, a Liberty half dollar, and a 1776∽2026 penny. The Mint revealed the coin designs last December.
Kristie McNally, acting director of the U.S. Mint. said the designs “depict the story of America’s journey toward a ‘more perfect union. ’ and celebrate America’s defining ideals of liberty.” She added. “We hope to offer each American the opportunity to hold our nation’s storied 250 years of history in the palms of their hands as we Connect America through Coins.”.
Coins for the 250th anniversary can be purchased directly through the U.S. Mint’s website.
U.S. Mint Declaration of Independence Quarter Semiquincentennial 2026 coins Federal Reserve distribution Thomas Jefferson quarter Liberty Bell quarter coin collecting