1776 ~ 2026 Mayflower Compact Quarter Enters Circulation

The Mayflower Compact Quarter, the first of five redesigned quarters planned for 2026 as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial circulating coinage, began entering circulation today.

The new quarter carries the dual date “1776 ~ 2026” and marks the start of a yearlong sequence of quarter and other coin designs tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence. Rather than a standalone quarter program, the design is a part of a broader, congressionally authorized redesign of U.S. circulating coins for the semiquincentennial.

The Mayflower Compact Quarter honors the 1620 agreement signed aboard the Mayflower, often cited as an early expression of self-governance in what would become the United States. The document is widely regarded as a precursor to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Designed by Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by Eric David Custer, the obverse features two Pilgrims embracing as they behold the New World. The inscriptions are “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “1776 ~ 2026,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

Designed by Cyrus E. Dallin and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, the reverse features the Mayflower, with full sails over rough seas, heading west. Inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “MAYFLOWER COMPACT,” and “25¢.”

The Mayflower Compact design leads a group of five quarter themes approved for 2026. The remaining designs recognize the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address. As previously reported by CoinNews, three of the five quarter themes represent revisions from earlier concepts reviewed during the design-development process.

Circulating-quality Mayflower Compact quarters struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints are scheduled to be offered to the public beginning Thursday, Feb. 5, at catalog.usmint.gov. Two product options are listed: a two-roll set priced at $42, and a pair of 100-coin bags priced at $47.25 each.

Additional semiquincentennial circulating coins planned for 2026 include redesigned versions of the dime and nickel, along with other denominations carrying dual-dated or commemorative elements tied to the anniversary.

Images and background information on all five 2026 quarter designs are available in CoinNews‘ overview of the 1776–2026 semiquincentennial circulating coinage.