How the anniversary coins reached pocket change

On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Mint began shipping the anniversary dime, half dollar and the first anniversary quarter. The Mint disclosed the shipment nine days later, giving people who look through their change a date for when distribution began. ^[1]

Federal Reserve Banks receive coins from the Mint and send them to banks and credit unions. Those institutions supply households and businesses. That path explains why a national shipment date cannot tell you when a specific coin will appear in change at a local store. ^[2]

The Mint offered a different way to get the Mayflower Compact quarter in February. It listed two rolls from Philadelphia and Denver, 80 quarters in all, for $56. The coins had a combined face value of $20. The higher price bought the packaged rolls. ^[3]

On July 4, the Mint’s Philadelphia gift shop gave a specially marked Declaration of Independence quarter to each of its first 250 customers. The Mint also reported 250,000 marked quarters in circulation nationwide. That larger figure describes circulation beyond the gift-shop event. ^[4]

If you find a coin in change, the Mint’s online gallery shows both faces of its anniversary coins. Several quarter designs share the 1776 and 2026 dates. Compare the design as well as the dates to identify which quarter you have. ^[5]

About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.