WASHINGTON, June 24, 2026, 05:03 (EDT)
U.S. Mint says it will issue just 250,000 Declaration of Independence quarters with the “July 4” privy mark, setting the mintage for what it calls the rarest America 250 circulating coin. That’s $62,500 in face value.
Privy marks are tiny symbols for special issues. These quarters won’t have a mint mark and will go out mixed randomly with regular 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters to banks and financial groups before the Fourth of July, according to the Mint. Mint Director Paul Hollis said the coins are “more than a coin” and meant to be “shared, saved, and remembered.” United States Mint
Privy marks are rare by the numbers, not by the look. CoinNews, using Mint data, said the Mint produced 89.8 million Declaration of Independence quarters without marks through May. With that total, the privy-marked version makes up just 0.28%, or one for every 359 standard coins. CoinNews also said production could pass 200 million regular quarters if patterns hold, which would mean just one marked coin for every 800.
The July 4 coin drop is a lot smaller than the Mint’s last big quarter rollout. Back in 2019, the Mint planned to make two million of each America the Beautiful quarter at West Point with a “W” mint mark, sending them into regular circulation. Then-Mint Director David Ryder called that plan an effort to keep them “only available in general circulation.” United States Mint
The Mint isn’t selling the new quarter as bullion. Product details for the Declaration of Independence rolls and bags show the circulating quarter is 8.33% nickel, the rest copper, no silver in the mix. Any extra cost is a play on scarcity, grade, or collector demand, not on metal content.
Declaration of Independence quarter with Jefferson, Liberty Bell now out; 2026 Mint design series on third issue (United States Mint)
The standard Declaration of Independence quarter started circulating June 1. The obverse has Thomas Jefferson. On the reverse, it’s the Liberty Bell. The Mint said it’s not clear if the bell actually rang in July 1776. This is the third of five 2026 Semiquincentennial quarter designs.
Collectors have been paying more than face value for Mint products without privy marks. The Mint set the price for an 80-coin two-roll set at $56, while 100-coin bags cost $63. That’s about 2.8 times and 2.52 times face, respectively. These were for Philadelphia and Denver quarters—not the July 4 no-mint-mark version.
The Mint’s 2026 lineup will see a one-year refresh for the nickel, dime, quarters, and half dollar, along with collector coins and medals. “In the palms of their hands,” is how Mint Deputy Director Kristie McNally described the goal, noting the new coins are meant to connect people with 250 years of U.S. history. United States Mint
KATU in Portland told viewers to “check your change” as local TV picks up the consumer hunt story. The report noted the 250,000-coin ceiling and the US Mint’s plan for random bank distribution. That’s key: early price signals will probably show up in circulation before any expected Mint drop at retail. KATU
Paul Hollis called the special quarter a “nationwide treasure hunt” during an interview with Talk 107.3 in Louisiana. The station said the coins are now in distribution channels throughout the country. Talk 107.3
But the trade has risks. The Mint hasn’t said how coins are split regionally, so some areas could see a flood of supply. Early online premiums often drop quickly if a lot of coins show up together. Condition matters, since coins pulled from circulation usually end up scratched. PCGS writer Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez wrote that privy marks “may or may not necessarily make a coin rare,” though special releases can boost demand and price. pcgs.com
