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Be sure to check your pockets after hitting up the bank—you could have a piece of American history in your hands.
The United States Mint has produced 250,000 Declaration of Independence quarters featuring a unique “July 4th” marking in celebration of America’s 250th birthday on Saturday. The coins, which were randomly placed into circulation, were provided to banks and financial institutions nationwide ahead of the upcoming holiday, federal officials said.
“This is more than a coin; it’s a defining moment in our nation’s history,” Mint Director Paul Hollis said in a statement late last month. “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.”
What to Know About the New Quarter
Mint officials began shipping the “July 4th” quarter in early June. The coin features Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the original draft of the Declaration of Independence and later became the third president, along with inscriptions of “E Pluribus Unum” and “In God We Trust,” as well as 1776 and 2026.
The obverse side depicts a cracked Liberty Bell and inscriptions including “The Declaration of Independence,” “Liberty” and the “United States of America.”
The “July 4th” quarter is one of five new quarter-dollar designs introduced by Mint officials for 2026. Other coins in the semiquincentennial celebration include the Mayflower Compact quarter, the Gettysburg Address quarter, the Revolutionary War quarter and the U.S. Constitution quarter.
“The designs on these historic coins depict the story of America’s journey toward a ‘more perfect union,’ and celebrate America’s defining ideals of liberty,” acting Mint Director Kristie McNally announced in December. “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.”
What to Do If You Find a ‘July 4th’ Quarter
For anyone lucky enough to find the special quarter randomly doled out to banks, hold onto it, but don’t expect to retire early, experts say.
Collectors can purchase a set of all five special quarters from the U.S. Mint for about $100 or a special-edition Liberty Bell gold coin for $19,600, but the coins might not significantly increase in value, KMOV in St. Louis reported last month.
“Oftentimes, they get slightly under what they pay for them,” Charlie Erthal of Scotsman Coin & Jewelry told the station. “And that’s because there’s a high premium associated with the Mint.”
The coins should be considered more of a sentimental investment than a financial one, Erthal said.
“So, you might not count on this as money maker but a very cool way to collect the heritage of the United States coinage,” he said.
Check out all of Newsweek’s coverage of America’s 250th anniversary:
- Massive July 4 Fireworks Display in Washington to Start Later This Year
- How Trump’s Agenda Clashes with Theodore Roosevelt’s Legacy
- Trump Vows Biggest Fireworks Show in History, His Own Playlist for July 4
- UFC Freedom 250 Viewership Numbers Break Record, Paramount+ Says
- Freedom 250: List of Events After Trump’s Great American State Fair is Modified
- Freedom 250: List of Performers Not Playing Trump-Backed Great American State Fair
- Freedom 250 Fair: What Attendees Can Expect as Artists Pull Out
- Utah’s Republican Governor Moves to Ban Fireworks Statewide Before July 4: Here’s Why
- Tallest statue in the West proposed to honor America’s 250th anniversary
- Map Shows States Skipping America 250 Fair as John Fetterman Steps In
- Trump Mulls Replacing Artists Who Pulled Out of Freedom 250 With Himself
- Trump’s State Fair Loses Power on First Day
- July 4 Heat Dome: Map Shows States Facing Dangerous Temperatures
Cash for July 4 Quarters
At least one group, however, wants to get their hands on as many “July 4th” quarters as possible.
The Numismatic Guaranty Company, a coin grading service, is offering $2,500 to any collectors who submit the Declaration of Independence quarter to be analyzed. Associated NGC dealers are not eligible to receive the bounty, company officials said last month.
The special “July 4th” quarter, if submitted, will be returned to the owner once graded, NCG officials said.
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