Declaration of Independence Quarter — July 4 Privy Mark
2026 Semiquincentennial • A Circulating Rarity Hiding in Your Change
Overview — America's 250th Anniversary in Your Pocket Change
The Declaration of Independence quarter is the third of five one-year-only quarter designs released by the U.S. Mint in 2026 to celebrate the Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of American independence. The standard design entered circulation on June 1, 2026, with the Mint beginning direct sales of rolls and bags on June 16. The obverse depicts Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration and the nation's third president, alongside the dual date "1776 ~ 2026," while the reverse depicts the Liberty Bell, its famous crack clearly visible in the design.
What has made this particular quarter design genuinely exciting for collectors and casual coin-checkers alike is a special limited variant: on June 23, 2026, the Mint announced it would strike 250,000 examples bearing a special "July 4" privy mark, timed to coincide with America's Independence Day and its 250th anniversary. Unlike special editions sold directly through the Mint's website, these privy-marked quarters were deliberately mixed into ordinary circulation and distributed to banks and financial institutions nationwide ahead of the Fourth of July — meaning the only way to obtain one is to find it in everyday change, exactly as the Mint intended.
How to Identify the July 4 Privy Mark Quarter
The privy-marked quarter carries the identical Declaration of Independence design used on the standard 2026 release, so at a casual glance it looks like an ordinary quarter from this year's Semiquincentennial series. The key distinguishing feature is a small "July 4th" privy mark placed in the open field to the left of Jefferson's bust on the obverse — a spot where the standard coin shows no mark at all. This privy mark is genuinely small, so careful examination (a loupe or strong magnification helps) is recommended when checking suspect coins.
The second, equally important identifier is the mint mark — or rather, its absence. Standard 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters carry either a "P" (Philadelphia) or "D" (Denver) mint mark. The special privy-marked quarters were struck with no mint mark at all, so a genuine example will show a blank space where that letter would normally appear. Both conditions — the privy mark present, and the mint mark missing — need to be true for a coin to be the genuine special variant; a coin with either the privy mark or a missing mint mark alone, without both together, should be examined more closely before assuming it's the real thing.
Check Left of Jefferson
The "July 4th" privy mark sits in the open field to the left of Jefferson's bust on the obverse.
No Mint Mark
Standard coins show P or D; genuine privy-marked examples show a blank space instead.
Liberty Bell Reverse
Same design as the standard release — the crack is clearly visible, as on all 2026 Declaration quarters.
250,000 of 200+ Million
The privy-marked quarters are a tiny fraction of the overall Declaration quarter mintage.
Only Found in Circulation
Never sold directly by the Mint — distributed randomly through banks nationwide.
2.5 oz Silver Version
250 edge-numbered silver pieces were also struck for a future auction — a separate, far scarcer companion issue.
Why the July 4 Privy Mark Quarter Is Scarce
The scale of scarcity here is genuinely dramatic even by circulating-rarity standards. Through June 2026, the Mint had already struck roughly 147.8 million standard Declaration of Independence quarters, with total production for the one-year design likely to exceed 200 million coins before the design cycles out. Against that backdrop, just 250,000 quarters were struck with the July 4 privy mark — meaning the special variant represents only a tiny fraction of a percent of the overall mintage, a genuinely low ratio for a circulating U.S. coin in the modern era.
The Mint deliberately designed this as a "find it in the wild" event rather than a direct retail sale, intentionally mixing the 250,000 privy-marked quarters into regular bank and financial institution distribution channels ahead of Independence Day — an approach reminiscent of past circulating coin hunts that generated significant public excitement. The Mint also struck a far scarcer companion piece: 250 edge-numbered 2.5-ounce .999 fine silver quarters bearing the same "July 4th" privy mark, struck sequentially on July 4, 2026, under the Treasury's authority to issue silver Semiquincentennial fractional coins — these silver pieces are reserved for a future auction rather than circulation, making them an entirely separate and vastly scarcer collectible from the circulating privy quarter.
Value Guide
Because this is a genuinely new release from mid-2026, established secondary-market pricing is still developing, and values shown here reflect early market activity rather than the decades of price history available for older key dates. Given the coin's newness and the significant public attention it has already generated (including grading-service promotions tied to the find), values could continue to shift as more examples are located, graded, and traded.
| Variety | Mintage | Circulated | Uncirculated / Certified | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarter (standard P/D) | 200+ million (est.) | Face value | $1–$5 | eBay → |
| July 4 Privy Mark Quarter SCARCE | 250,000 | $25–$75+ | $100–$500+ | eBay → |
| 2.5 oz Silver Privy Mark (edge #1–250) RARE | 250 | Not yet auctioned | TBD at future Mint auction | eBay → |
Where to Buy the Declaration of Independence Quarter
eBay — July 4 Privy Mark Quarters
Since the Mint doesn't sell the privy-marked variant directly, eBay is the primary secondary market for buying an already-found example.
Shop Privy Mark Quarters →US Mint — Standard Quarter Rolls & Bags
The standard Declaration of Independence quarter (without the privy mark) is available directly from the U.S. Mint in rolls and bags.
Visit US Mint →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for this and other modern U.S. quarter varieties before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the July 4 privy mark quarter?
It's a special limited-edition variant of the 2026 Declaration of Independence quarter — one of five one-year-only designs the U.S. Mint released in 2026 to mark the Semiquincentennial, America's 250th anniversary. The Mint struck 250,000 examples bearing a small "July 4th" privy mark and no mint mark, deliberately mixing them into ordinary circulation through banks nationwide ahead of Independence Day, rather than selling them directly.
How do I know if my quarter has the July 4 privy mark?
Look for a small "July 4th" mark in the open field to the left of Jefferson's bust on the obverse — a spot that's blank on the standard coin. Then check the mint mark: standard 2026 Declaration quarters carry a P or D, while genuine privy-marked examples have no mint mark at all. Both features need to be present together (the privy mark showing, and the mint mark missing) to confirm you have the genuine special variant.
How rare is the July 4 privy mark quarter?
Very rare relative to the overall Declaration of Independence quarter mintage. The Mint had already struck roughly 147.8 million standard quarters of this design through June 2026, with total production likely to exceed 200 million. Against that, only 250,000 carry the July 4 privy mark — meaning the special variant makes up a tiny fraction of the total run, a genuinely low ratio for a modern circulating U.S. coin.
Can I buy the July 4 privy mark quarter directly from the Mint?
No — unlike many special coin releases, the Mint did not sell these directly. They were deliberately mixed into regular circulation and distributed to banks and financial institutions nationwide, meant to be found by the public in everyday change rather than purchased. The only way to acquire one is to find it yourself or buy an already-found example on the secondary market from another collector or dealer.
What is the 2.5 oz silver version of this quarter?
Separately from the 250,000 circulating privy-marked quarters, the Mint struck 250 oversized 2.5-ounce .999 fine silver versions on July 4, 2026, at the Philadelphia Mint. These carry the same design and July 4 privy mark but are struck in silver, individually edge-numbered from 1 to 250, and are reserved for a future Mint auction rather than circulation — making them an entirely separate and far scarcer collectible from the circulating clad version.
Since this is such a new coin, will its value keep changing?
Very likely, yes. Because the July 4 privy mark quarter only entered circulation in mid-2026, established long-term secondary-market pricing simply hasn't had time to develop the way it has for decades-old key dates. Early prices reflect initial collector excitement and scarcity awareness, and could shift meaningfully as more examples are found, graded, and traded over the coming months and years. Checking current listings and recent sales data is more reliable than relying on any single value estimate for a coin this new.
Find the July 4 Privy Mark Quarter on eBayMoney Back Guarantee
FindRareCoins.com participates in the eBay Partner Network, Amazon Associates, and AWIN affiliate programs. Purchases made through links on this page may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
'
