New Coins Honor America's 250th Anniversary
One of the coins created to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary started circulating on Monday, January 5, the U.S. Mint announced on social media.
The Mayflower Compact Quarter is the first of five new quarter designs for 2026. The collectible features two pilgrims, a man and a woman, under a banner that reads "E Pluribus Unum," which translates to "out of many, one."
The other 25-cent coins slated for circulation include the Revolutionary War quarter, Declaration of Independence quarter, U.S. Constitution quarter and Gettysburg Address quarter.
What the Quarters Look Like
The Revolutionary War coin features George Washington on the front with a Continental Army soldier at Valley Forge on the back. The inscription reads "Revolutionary War."
The Declaration of Independence quarter displays a side portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the front with the Liberty Bell on the back. The U.S. Constitution quarter features a portrait of James Madison. The Gettysburg Address quarter features Abraham Lincoln on the front with two clasped hands on the back and the inscription "A New Nation Conceived in Liberty."
Other Coins Being Minted
Other coins for the occasion include 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 U.S. Mint revealed the coin designs on December 11.
In a news release, Kristie McNally, acting director of the U.S. Mint, said the coin designs "depict the story of America's journey toward a 'more perfect union,' and celebrate America's defining ideals of liberty."
McNally 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."
It’s not clear when the remaining coins will enter circulation, but they'll all be available before the country's semiquincentennial anniversary.
The Trump Coin Question
The Treasury Department announced in October it was considering new $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's image as part of its series to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The Mint has proposed designs for the coin on its website.
There's a problem though. Federal law prohibits any living person from being on U.S. currency.
So, unless that law changes, a Trump coin isn't happening while he's alive.
How to Get Them
The coins can be purchased directly through the U.S. Mint's website. They'll also enter regular circulation, which means you might get one as change from your local coffee shop or grocery store.
Check your change carefully over the next year if you want to spot these commemorative quarters in the wild.
From A Collector's Standpoint
Commemorative coins typically become collectibles even though they're legal tender. People hold onto them instead of spending them, which defeats the purpose of putting them in circulation but makes sense from a collecting standpoint.
Whether these quarters become genuinely valuable collectibles or just mildly interesting change you find in your pocket depends on mintage numbers and collector interest. Most commemorative quarters don't become worth significantly more than face value unless something unusual happens with production.
It’s still worth checking your change, though. Finding one in circulation beats ordering it online, at least from a "cool story" perspective.
What It Comes Down To
America's 250th anniversary gets commemorated through five new quarter designs and several other coins. The Mayflower Compact Quarter starts circulating Monday as the first of the bunch.
The designs trace major moments in American history from the Mayflower Compact through the Gettysburg Address. The Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution all get represented.
Collectors will probably snag these from the U.S. Mint website. Regular people will encounter them as change over the next year.
The Trump coin remains theoretical unless federal law changes to allow living people on currency. Right now, that's prohibited, so proposed designs stay proposals for now.
Did you find this information useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends.