1776-2026 July 4th Privy Declaration of Independence Quarter - MS68

There are scarce coins—and then there are scarce coins that are extraordinarily difficult to find in elite condition. This 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarter combines both.

Created for the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the U.S. Mint produced just 250,000 special Declaration of Independence Quarters bearing the “JULY 4th” privy mark. Unlike traditional limited-edition collectibles sold directly by the Mint, these coins were deliberately mixed with ordinary quarters and released through banks and financial institutions across the country, creating a nationwide treasure hunt for one of the most talked-about circulating coins of America’s Semiquincentennial year.

That unusual method of distribution is exactly what makes an MS68 example so remarkable.

These quarters were created to enter the normal banking system—not to travel directly from the Mint into protective collector packaging. Coins could come into contact with one another during handling, bagging, shipping and distribution before a collector ever had the opportunity to find one. Even an otherwise Uncirculated coin can acquire the small contact marks and surface imperfections that prevent it from reaching the highest Mint State grades.

This extraordinary example has overcome those obstacles to earn the coveted MS68 grade from ANACS, placing it at an exceptionally high level of preservation for a circulation-intended U.S. quarter. At MS68, the appeal goes beyond simply owning the scarce July 4th variety—it represents the opportunity to own this already difficult coin in a condition few circulating quarters ever achieve.

The coin itself is one of the signature releases of the entire America 250 celebration. Its obverse features Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, together with the historic 1776 ~ 2026 dual date. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell ringing, its famous crack visible as both an enduring symbol of liberty and a reminder of the fragile young nation born in 1776.

What separates this variety from the standard Declaration of Independence Quarter is its distinctive “JULY 4th” privy mark and intentional absence of the normal P or D mint mark. With only 250,000 issued, collectors immediately began searching rolls, bank boxes and pocket change for examples. The hunt became significant enough that PCGS launched a special Quarter Quest, including a $5,000 prize for the earliest submitted discovery.

The combination is difficult to duplicate: an already scarce 250,000-mintage variety, one of the most sought-after circulating coins of 2026, preserved at the exceptional MS68 level.

For collectors assembling the finest America 250 collection possible, the difference between simply obtaining a July 4th Privy Quarter and obtaining one certified MS68 is substantial. This is not merely an example of the historic 2026 rarity—it is an elite-condition survivor of a coin that was never designed to remain pristine.