Semiquincentennial Quarters Series

Declaration of Independence Quarter

History, design, and collector guide

Declaration of Independence overview

The Declaration of Independence quarter entered general circulation June 1, 2026, becoming the third coin in the Semiquincentennial series and, by a wide margin, the one generating the most attention this year.

The obverse features Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration and the nation’s third president. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell, its famous crack visible, a detail meant to echo the fragility of a young nation at its founding.

Design and specifications

Jefferson’s portrait anchors the obverse alongside the standard “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776 ~ 2026” inscriptions. The reverse shows the Liberty Bell in motion, cracked, with “THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE” inscribed alongside it.

  • Obverse designer: the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program
  • Reverse designer: Benjamin Sowards, sculptor John McGraw
  • Release date: In general circulation June 1, 2026; Mint rolls and bags available June 16, 2026
  • Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
  • Diameter: 24.26 mm, edge: reeded
  • Mints: Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D)

Production so far

Through May 2026, the Mint had already struck about 89.8 million Declaration of Independence quarters, with production pace suggesting a final total well over 200 million once the year is out. That puts it on a similar circulation scale to the Mayflower Compact and Revolutionary War designs. When the Mint’s own rolls and bags went on sale June 16, both sold out in roughly fifteen minutes.

The July 4th privy mark, the real reason to check your change

Alongside the standard production run, the Mint struck exactly 250,000 Declaration of Independence quarters carrying a small “July 4th” privy mark and no mint mark at all. Rather than sell them, the Mint mixed all 250,000 randomly into circulation nationwide through banks, timed to reach the public around Independence Day. Based on the coin’s production pace, that works out to roughly 1 in 800 odds among Declaration quarters you find, making it one of the more realistic “find it in your change” hunts in recent memory.

The Mint separately struck 250 individually numbered 2.5 ounce silver versions of that same July 4th privy design on the Fourth of July itself, plain edge, numbered 1 through 250. Those will never reach circulation. The Mint says they will be sold at auction on a date it has not yet announced, an unusual move for the Mint, which normally sells collector products through its own catalog rather than an auction house.

For a deeper dive on the privy quarter itself, including the NGC and PCGS cash bounties and where hunters are actually finding them, see our complete July 4th privy quarter guide.

Collecting the Declaration of Independence quarter

A standard circulated Declaration of Independence quarter without the privy mark is worth face value, since production is running well into the hundreds of millions. The July 4th privy mark coin is the one worth pulling out of a roll, look for a small mark in the field to the left of Jefferson’s portrait and the absence of any P or D mint mark.

Beyond the privy coins, the Mint’s rolls and bags have already commanded resale premiums well above their $56 and $63 issue prices on the secondary market, since both sold out within minutes of release, though pricing on sold-out Mint products has a history of settling once initial demand cools.

5 fun facts about the Declaration of Independence quarter

  1. The Declaration of Independence quarter is the third coin in the 2026 Semiquincentennial series, entering circulation June 1, 2026.
  2. 250,000 quarters were struck with a special ‘July 4th’ privy mark and no mint mark, then mixed randomly into circulation rather than sold.
  3. At current production estimates, roughly 1 in 800 Declaration quarters carries the July 4th privy mark.
  4. 250 individually numbered 2.5 ounce silver versions of the July 4th design were struck for auction and will never enter circulation.
  5. The Mint’s rolls and bags for this coin sold out in about fifteen minutes when offered on June 16, 2026.

5 common FAQs about the Declaration of Independence quarter

  1. Is a Declaration of Independence quarter worth anything?
    A standard example is worth face value. The 250,000 coins carrying the July 4th privy mark, with no mint mark, are the ones worth pulling aside.
  2. What is the July 4th privy mark on the Declaration of Independence quarter?
    A small mark added to 250,000 quarters, struck with no P or D mint mark and mixed randomly into circulation around Independence Day 2026.
  3. How rare is the July 4th privy quarter?
    Based on current production estimates, roughly 1 in 800 Declaration of Independence quarters carries the mark.
  4. Are there silver versions of the Declaration of Independence quarter?
    Yes, 250 individually numbered 2.5 ounce silver strikes of the July 4th design were produced for auction and will not enter circulation.
  5. When did the Declaration of Independence quarter release?
    It entered general circulation June 1, 2026, with Mint rolls and bags following on June 16.

3 quiz questions about the Declaration of Independence quarter

  1. How many Declaration of Independence quarters carry the July 4th privy mark?
    A) 25,000
    B) 100,000
    C) 250,000
    D) 1 million
  2. What is missing from the July 4th privy mark quarters?
    A) The date
    B) A mint mark
    C) The motto
    D) Jefferson’s portrait
  3. How many 2.5 ounce silver versions of the July 4th design were struck?
    A) 25
    B) 250
    C) 2,500
    D) 25,000

Declaration of Independence Quarter, Takeaway

The Declaration of Independence quarter, released June 2026, is the standout coin of the Semiquincentennial series thanks to 250,000 July 4th privy mark quarters mixed randomly into circulation, roughly 1 in 800 odds among Declaration quarters. A standard example is worth face value, but this is the one genuinely worth checking your change for.

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