Britain presents symbolic coin to mark America’s 250th anniversary
The Royal Mint has designed a 190mm, 250oz 13-sided coin to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The latest new coins designed to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary will go into circulation next week, the U.S. Mint said.
In a May 25 news release, the Mint announced that distribution to commercial banks and financial institutions of the 2026 Half Centennial Quarter honoring the Declaration of Independence to the Federal Reserve System will begin on Monday, June 1.
The Declaration of Independence quarter is the third of five new quarter dollar designs for 2026. The obverse design depicts Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, and includes the inscriptions “E Pluribus Unum,” “In God We Trust,” and “1776-2026.”
The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell ringing, with the crack in the bell visible. The inscriptions on this side are “Declaration of Independence,” “Quarter Dollar,” “Liberty,” and “United States of America.”
See the new Declaration of Independence quarter design
What other quarter dollar designs will be in circulation in 2026?
Other 25 cent coins used in the semi-quincentennial commemoration include the Mayflower Compact quarter, Revolutionary War quarter, U.S. Constitution quarter and Gettysburg Address quarter.
The Mayflower Compact Quarter, which went into circulation in January, depicts two Pilgrims, a man and a woman, embracing each other under a banner that reads “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “out of many, one.” Revolutionary War District was published in March and features George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
The quarter of the U.S. Constitution features a portrait of James Madison, which is not yet in circulation, while the quarter of the Gettysburg Address, also not yet in circulation, features Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and clasped hands and the inscription “A New Nation Conceived in Liberty” on the reverse.
What other coins are included in the 250th Anniversary Collection?
Other coins minted for the occasion include a dime with Liberty’s face, a nickel with Thomas Jefferson and the inscription “1776∽2026,” a Liberty Half Dollar, and a 1776∽2026 penny. The U.S. Mint revealed the coin design in December of last year.
Christie McNally, acting director of the U.S. Mint, said in a news release that the coin’s design “tells the story of America’s journey towards a ‘more perfect union’ and celebrates America’s defining ideals of freedom.”
McNally added, “As we connect America through coins, we want to give each American the opportunity to hold our nation’s 250 years of storied history in the palm of their hands.”
How to buy coins
Coins can be purchased directly from the U.S. Mint website.
Contributed by Michelle Del Rey & Mike Snyder, USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.
