United States Mint to Produce Limited-Edition Fourth of July Declaration of Independence Quarters
steve_richardson
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From the site:
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2026 — The United States Mint (Mint) will produce 250,000 Semiquincentennial 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarters featuring a special "July 4th" privy mark in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Bearing no mint mark, these unique quarters will be placed randomly into circulation, offering Americans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover a piece of history in everyday transactions.
“This is more than a coin; it’s a defining moment in our nation’s story,” said Mint Director Paul Hollis. “We hope Americans enjoy the search for these iconic quarters as they’re meant to be shared, saved, and remembered as part of this historic anniversary.”
Randomly mixed in with other 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarters, these 250,000 special “July 4” quarters will be made available to banks and financial institutions nationwide in time for the Fourth of July. Customers can learn more about all the Semiquincentennial coins and medals by visiting the Mint’s website.
Comments
This would be cool to look for. But, I have yet to see ANY 2026 coinage in circulation yet.
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Just like the W quarters. Except that no one can get their hands on any of these new 2026 coins as it is, let alone this particular release. Maybe in a year or two these will start showing up. Unfortunately I have no ability to play this game in my location.
Totally agree. Sounds fun, but I’ll probably have to spend some time trying to figure out how to order boxes of quarters from my bank…
And even then I don’t know if I’ll get any 2026 coins…
Oh, and 80x fewer than the W quarters.
That's cool they're mixing in with the general circulation. When I saw the headline I assumed it was going to be another high priced money-grab.
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Same here in the northeast
A treasure hunt at your local bank (who doesn’t know there’s new coinage this year)
Any bets the Declaration rolls climb in value and end up being put on EBay by the branch manager’s spouse?
It’s an ingenious idea though. More of this please.
Sometimes I wonder if the ones running the mint are actually on meds or something.
I think you have to look at each of the W mint quarters individually, hence, 8x fewer than each of the W quarters.
People on this forum called for something very similar. I don't see how this is a bad idea... other than the fact that, like with the W quarters, 90% of the people handling them don't know they even exist.
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This duck likes coin too
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The mint makes very limited high-priced coins that sell out before most can get one, and people aren't happy.
The mint makes a circulation strike that is a relative rarity and only distributed at face value in bank rolls, and people aren't happy.
I'm starting to think that it's impossible to please people. 😆
I’m happy about this distribution. Granted it will be harder to get this than some off the overpriced sets from the mint website, but still… fun idea and would be exciting to find one!
Well, there's nothing that will make everyone happy. Lol.
But it's really almost the same issue, aside from price. Make a limited edition coin that i can't get and "my" completeness itch doesn't get scratched. Distribute a coin that I likely can't find in circulation, and I have the same problem. Statistically, the probability of finding a July 4th quarter is less than of being able to buy the lowest mintage issue of the year. You are maybe 1:10 for one of the very low mintage direct sales and like 1:500 or more for the July 4th quarter.
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We only get Denver mint coins at my banks for new coins, so no joy. But I am glad to see that the Mint is doing anything to increase people looking at coins.
I don't see any indication that these aren't also being distributed in Denver Mint distribution. For all we know, they are being made there. The "no mint mark" is a feature but an indication of origin. I would guess maybe West Point, but could be any of the Mints.
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Ah, when I saw that there was no mint mark, I assumed perhaps incorrectly that they were all being minted in Philadelphia. Good point that there would be a P on a 2026 quarter, so okay I will LOOK.
The difference between this limited issue and issues sold by the mint is that these will pop up in circulation even years from now.
I expect a mad dash to buy boxes and certainly many will be caught that way, but many will make it out into the world. The other recent thread where three W quarters were found in a box of circulated quarters is an example of how this might work.
Or off them
Nah. 250,000 is far too common to get much interest for a modern. There are fewer than this '69 dimes in nice F or better and they circulate nearly randomly.
Mebbe if people look for the "rare" quarter they'll notice the other rarities in circulation.
People can pull enough coins out of circulation to keep the mint busy.
I’m wasting no time in the hunt. Chasing down the Loomis truck on my way home from my office. 🤣🤣🤣
Are you unaware of the W quarters? They're are 2 million of each and they still carry a premium.
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Don't be so sure. The fact that so much silver, in addition to the W quarters, showed up in one box indicates someone's collection was dumped in a Coinstar. Not that anything can happen in circulation.
Looks like fun for those who hunt for coins in circulation. May cause a stir in the general population as well. Downside for me is I’ll probably have to buy one in a reasonably high grade for my type set. Early prices will be high but I can be patient. Cool move by the mint IMO.
I've found two Mayflower Compact quarters so far, out of two boxes, 4000 quarters...this new quarter chase has 250,000 blended into the mix...all I can say is, GOOD LUCK ! Hmmm, good luck in finding ANY new coin.
That's my fear—hope they come to me before they're all taken. It takes FOREVER for current-year coins to come to Texas
I'm excited for the treasure hunt, but seriously, who uses quarters, or change for that matter. Yes, these will be found years from now. But secretly inside, I'm trying to find a way to get my bank to sell me a box.
What are the chances of these being in the rolls and mint bags from the mint ?
I'm thinking they won't .... however I had to ask
This is what I love to see the Mint make!
@HeatherBoyd It would be great for PCGS to have a discovery contest and special discovery slabs for these!
I would love to play the search game if I had the ability. But my banks are going to be of no help, so I won't be able to obtain rolls of new quarters to search through. I like the idea, I hope many here have the chance to score a few. I would buy an example if I can for a reasonable price.
Would love some silver ones too!
Yeah everyone. Impossible to find so if I were you I wouldn't even try to find one!
Thank you for posting this information.
I just flashbacked to 2019!! Let's GO!!
Where will the first one be found?
I would ask for rolls from my bank, but when I showed two tellers the silver proof set for examples of the new 2026 coins, they both said “none of us have seen these in here yet. When did they start coming out?”
They already exist. They are in the silver proof sets.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
If you check five rolls a week (and no one else does) you'll find one within ten years.
Of course these coins stand out a lot and many will be on the look out for them so they'll almost all be found in AU and XF. If 2% of the population is watching for them then every 50th time one is used it will be removed. Half life in circulation will be measured in months.
Most of the scarce modern varieties exist in at least small hoards holding prices down. Most of these will be found one at a time and there can be no hoards.
So we will have yet another incomplete official Mint Set this year?
Was it 125,000 to Denver and same to Philadelphia ?
.
So you're telling me there's a chance...
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I’m pretty sure they aren’t telling us where they were made, and it sounds to me like the will try and distribute through their reserve banks as they usually distribute coins.
Interview with Director Hollis about this coin treasure hunt.
I got some of the Revolutionary War quarters in change recently in northern FL. I'm sure they'll begin circulating more widely. I think I already spent them again, so don't accuse me of hoarding
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1123703/semiquincentennial-1776-2026-circulating-quarters-report-thread
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I think the mint dropped the ball on this. They should have made 25 million (out of 130 million)) instead of 250,000. WAY more collectors would have been created.
He indicates that they were produced in Philadelphia and will be distributed through various geographic regional locations so everyone has a chance to find them.
Yes. I know there was questions about where they were minted, so this answers that. I’ll have to watch it again, but didn’t he use the word “magical”?
Shoot.
I meant five rolls a month.
The good news is if you just check ten rolls a month for a year and a quarter your chances are a lot better. You're not sure to find one though. In the real world there won't be many of these circulating in five years anyway.
The neat thing about circulating coins is that they are quantifiable. Watching them change over time is simply facinating.
It's unlikely I can intercept any of these because so few new coins are released here and they come from a few specific points. You need an account just for a chance at getting new coin.
Forget about it !!! Zero chance. Already distributed across the country in circulating coins.
We'll see.
My guess is two or three million people are going to start looking for these. This is a significant percentage of coin users but still low enough that coins can stay in circulation a while. Coins found early will be BU but limited in numbers. It is later that things start getting scoured by lots of people just to find lowly XF and AU examples. There won't be more than a few handfuls worn down to VF.
I think this is inspired. The problem with the W mintmark quarters is they were placed in right at the tops of bags in large numbers that could easily be removed with little effort. This means lots of BU's and the coins in circulation are usually found worn. But this time even Aunt Martha in Poughkeepsie has a fair chance of getting one at the A&P. This changes everything and it's not just a rare and valuable mint mark that makes it different but rather it's an entirely distinct design and type. This might be considered like a regular issue like Washington Crossing the Delaware or the other 250 year quarters.
Magic might not be such a bad word.