For the first time in nearly a century, George Washington does not appear on every United States quarter. The 2026 Semiquincentennial quarters, a five-coin program marking 250 years of American independence, give each release its own obverse and reverse design. Four of the five coins replace Washington entirely with other historical figures. The last time quarters carried a non-Washington obverse was the Standing Liberty design, which ended production in 1930.
The program replaces the American Women Quarters series that ran from 2022 through 2025. Congress authorized the change through the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. Each of the five 2026 quarters carries a dual date reading “1776 ~ 2026,” and the designs trace a path from the Mayflower’s arrival through the Civil War. After this program wraps up, the Youth Sports quarter series begins in 2027.
Three designs are already in circulation, with a fourth just released in August. Below is each coin’s design, mintage data, and secondary market pricing as of August 2026.
Design 1: Mayflower Compact Quarter
The series opener entered circulation on January 5, 2026. The U.S. Mint released rolls and bags on February 5, and they sold out within minutes.
The obverse shows two Pilgrims embracing as they look toward the New World. Ronald D. Sanders of the Artistic Infusion Program designed the image, and Eric David Custer sculpted it. The reverse features the Mayflower under full sail, a design based on Cyrus E. Dallin’s work for the 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary commemorative half dollar.
Combined mintage: 316.4 million (170.2M Denver, 146.2M Philadelphia), the highest in the series.
Design 2: American Revolutionary War Quarter
Released into circulation on March 23 at Mount Vernon, the Revolutionary War quarter is the only 2026 design that keeps George Washington on the obverse. The Mint used Joseph Menna’s 2007 portrait of Washington for the obverse, giving it a different look from the previous standard-issue profile.
The reverse depicts a Continental Army soldier overlooking the winter encampment at Valley Forge. Donna Weaver designed the reverse, and Craig Campbell sculpted it. Rolls and bags went on sale March 27 and sold out immediately.
Total mintage reached 202.8 million: 102.4 million D-mint and 100.4 million P-mint. The relatively balanced split between the two mints means neither carries a significant scarcity premium over the other at this point.
Design 3: Declaration of Independence Quarter
This is the release that has generated the most collector excitement so far. The Declaration quarter entered circulation on June 1, with rolls and bags following on June 16. Those rolls sold out in roughly 15 minutes.
Thomas Jefferson appears on the obverse. The reverse shows the Liberty Bell in motion, with its famous crack visible. Benjamin Sowards designed the reverse, and John McGraw sculpted it.
Total mintage is 147.8 million (84.8 million D, 63.0 million P), the lowest circulation mintage of the three released designs. But the mintage numbers are not the main story here.
The July 4th Privy Mark Coins
The U.S. Mint released 250,000 Declaration quarters bearing a small “July 4th” privy mark directly into general circulation. These coins carry no mintmark. At roughly 1 in 590 among the Declaration mintage, they are scarce enough to drive serious hunt interest but not so rare that finding one is impossible. The privy mark coins have already become one of the most talked-about modern circulation finds.
The 2.5 oz Silver Strikes
Beyond the circulation coins, the Mint produced just 250 special silver strikes of the Declaration design. Each one weighs 2.5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, and every coin is edge-numbered from 1 to 250. These will be sold through a series of auctions. At current silver spot prices, the melt value alone on these pieces exceeds $75, but the auction prices will almost certainly land far higher given the mintage of just 250 and the collector demand surrounding this release.
Design 4: U.S. Constitution Quarter
The newest release entered circulation on August 10, 2026. Rolls and bags go on sale August 26, priced at $56 for a two-roll set (one P, one D).
James Madison appears on the obverse, designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Don Everhart. The reverse shows the steeple of Independence Hall with the clock set to 2:50, a nod to the 250th anniversary. The inscription “WE THE PEOPLE” appears on the reverse. Donna Weaver designed the reverse, and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.
Mintage data through May shows just 3 million coins produced (1.6 million P, 1.4 million D). Production is still ramping up. Those early numbers will climb significantly through the rest of the year, but this is worth watching. If final mintage stays well below the Mayflower or Revolutionary War totals, the Constitution quarter could become one of the more collectible issues in the series.
Design 5: Gettysburg Address Quarter
The series closer is scheduled for late October 2026. Abraham Lincoln will appear on the obverse, designed by Justin Kunz and sculpted by Don Everhart. The reverse depicts two hands clasping, with the inscription “A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY.” Beth Zaiken designed the reverse, and Craig Campbell sculpted it.
Early production figures through May show 2.8 million coins (1.4 million each from Denver and Philadelphia). Like the Constitution quarter, those numbers reflect the very beginning of the production run and will grow substantially before year-end.
Mintage Comparison Table
| Design | Release Date | D Mint | P Mint | Total Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayflower Compact | Jan 5, 2026 | 170.2M | 146.2M | 316.4M |
| Revolutionary War | Mar 23, 2026 | 102.4M | 100.4M | 202.8M |
| Declaration of Independence | Jun 1, 2026 | 84.8M | 63.0M | 147.8M |
| U.S. Constitution | Aug 10, 2026 | 1.4M | 1.6M | 3.0M |
| Gettysburg Address | Late Oct 2026 | 1.4M | 1.4M | 2.8M |
*Through May 2026. Production ongoing.
The downward mintage trend across the first three released designs is notable. The Declaration quarter’s 147.8 million total is less than half the Mayflower’s 316.4 million. Whether the Constitution and Gettysburg quarters maintain lower mintage levels once production is fully ramped will determine a lot about long-term collector value in this series.
Specifications
All five circulation quarters share the same physical specs that have been standard since 1965:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.67 grams |
| Diameter | 24.3 mm |
| Composition | Cupronickel clad (copper core, 75% copper / 25% nickel outer layers) |
| Edge | Reeded (119 reeds) |
The silver proof versions are struck at the San Francisco Mint (S mintmark) in .999 fine silver. Each silver proof quarter contains 0.199 troy ounces of silver. For collectors tracking metal content, a complete five-coin silver proof set contains just under one troy ounce of silver total (0.995 oz).
Silver Proof Set: Pricing and Availability
The 2026 Semiquincentennial Silver Proof Set is priced at $245 from the U.S. Mint. The mintage limit was raised to 271,250, and has sold out.
For reference on silver coin premiums in this market, individual silver proof quarters from the set are trading at $28 to $35 each on the secondary market. That puts the per-coin premium well above the roughly $6 in silver content per coin at current spot. Compare that to typical silver eagle premiums, and the proof quarters actually carry a higher percentage markup, though on a much smaller base of metal.
What 2026 Semiquincentennial Quarters Are Worth
Secondary market prices vary by design, condition, and format. Here is where things stand as of August 2026:
| Format | Price Range | Multiple of Face Value |
|---|---|---|
| Individual uncirculated (any design) | $4 to $7 | 16x to 28x face |
| Declaration roll (two-roll set) | $150+ | Issued at $56, nearly 3x issue |
| Silver proof (individual) | $28 to $35 | N/A (proof) |
| Silver Proof Set (5-coin) | $245 (issue price) | N/A (proof set) |
| July 4th privy mark (circulation) | Varies widely | Early sales $50+ |
The Declaration of Independence rolls stand out. Issued at $56 per two-roll set and now trading above $150, they have nearly tripled in value in two months. The combination of the lowest circulation mintage, the privy mark hunt, and the silver strike auction buzz has pushed demand for anything connected to the third design.
Individual uncirculated quarters from the first three designs are selling at $4 to $7, which translates to 16x to 28x face value. That premium will likely compress as more coins enter circulation, but for now, demand from set builders and type collectors is keeping prices elevated.
The July 4th privy mark coins are the wild card. With only 250,000 released into circulation and no way to buy them directly from the Mint, prices depend entirely on how many surface and in what condition. Early confirmed finds have sold for $50 and up, and graded examples in MS-65 or better will command significantly more.
Designer and Sculptor Credits
| Design | Obverse Designer | Obverse Sculptor | Reverse Designer | Reverse Sculptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayflower Compact | Ronald D. Sanders (AIP) | Eric David Custer | (Based on Cyrus E. Dallin) | — |
| Revolutionary War | Joseph Menna (2007) | — | Donna Weaver | Craig Campbell |
| Declaration of Independence | — | — | Benjamin Sowards | John McGraw |
| U.S. Constitution | Joel Iskowitz | Don Everhart | Donna Weaver | Phebe Hemphill |
| Gettysburg Address | Justin Kunz | Don Everhart | Beth Zaiken | Craig Campbell |
Donna Weaver is the only designer credited on two reverses (Revolutionary War and Constitution). Don Everhart sculpted two obverses (Constitution and Gettysburg). Craig Campbell sculpted two reverses (Revolutionary War and Gettysburg).
Other 2026 U.S. Mint Changes
The quarter program is not the only denomination getting a redesign in 2026. The Emerging Liberty dime introduces the first new dime design since 1946, when the Roosevelt dime replaced the Mercury design. A new half dollar design is also part of the Semiquincentennial coin program.
One other notable development: the U.S. Mint is not producing pennies for general circulation in 2026. Lincoln cents will appear only in proof sets this year. Whether this becomes a permanent change remains to be seen, but it is the first time in modern history that new pennies are absent from circulation production.
What to Watch For
A few things to monitor as the program plays out through the rest of 2026:
Constitution and Gettysburg final mintages. The early production numbers (3 million and 2.8 million respectively) are preliminary. If either design finishes with a total below 100 million, it becomes the scarcest regular-issue quarter since the early state quarters with production problems.
July 4th privy mark population. As more of the 250,000 privy mark coins are found and graded, the market will establish firmer price bands by grade. Right now, pricing is volatile because supply in certified holders is still thin.
Silver strike auction results. The 250 edge-numbered 2.5 oz silver Declaration quarters will set a benchmark for this program’s high end. If those auctions produce strong prices, it could boost interest across all Semiquincentennial quarter products.
Silver Proof Set sell-through. At 78.8% sold, the set is on pace to sell out before year-end. Once it does, secondary market premiums on the set (and individual silver proofs pulled from it) will likely increase.
For collectors building modern type sets, the 2026 Semiquincentennial quarters represent the most significant design shift in the denomination since 1932. Five different obverse portraits (four non-Washington) on a circulating U.S. quarter is unprecedented in the modern era. And for those familiar with earlier quarter series and their secondary market behavior, the early pricing patterns on these 2026 issues are worth watching closely.
Check our latest articles for updates on mintage figures, silver proof availability, and auction results as they develop through the end of the year.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Coin values fluctuate based on market conditions, collector demand, and other factors. Always do your own research before making purchasing decisions. FindBullionPrices.com may receive compensation from affiliated dealers.
