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September 15, 2021
Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, the United States celebrates the anniversary of
The bicentennial quarter has a portrait of George
the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence with a
Washington on the obverse and a colonial drummer on the
federal holiday called Independence Day. For certain
reverse. The bicentennial half-dollar features a portrait of
milestone anniversaries (every 50 years), Congress has
John F. Kennedy on the obverse and Independence Hall on
authorized the temporary design of circulating coins, or the
the reverse. The bicentennial dollar includes a portrait of
issuance of medals or commemorative coins. These
Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse and the Liberty Bell
milestone celebrations occurred in 1826, 1876, 1926, and
and the moon on the reverse.
1976. The 250th anniversary occurs in 2026. This In Focus
provides a historical overview of designs for circulating
2026—250th Anniversary
coins, medals, and commemorative coins for past
In the 116th Congress, Congress enacted the Circulating
anniversary celebrations and the upcoming
Collectible Coin Redesign Act (P.L. 116-330) to authorize
semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary.
the temporary design of all circulating coins for the 2026
semiquincentennial. The law requires that the Secretary of
Circulating Coinage
the Treasury select coin designs in consultation with the
For two anniversary celebrations—1976 and 2026—
U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens
Congress authorized the temporary design of circulating
Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Additionally, the
coins.
Secretary is required to devise a “design selection process
developed ... in consultation with the United States
1976—200th Anniversary
Semiquincentennial Commission and with
For 1976, to celebrate the bicentennial, Congress authorized
recommendations from the general public” (§3).
special designs of the quarter, half-dollar, and dollar (P.L.
93-127). Congress specified that the bicentennial coins
The Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act provides
maintain the same obverse as then-circulating coins, but
specific instructions for the redesign of the reverse of
include two dates—1776 and 1976—rather than the
quarters and dollar coins. For quarters, the U.S. Mint is
standard single date. Further, “the reverse side of all dollar,
authorized to redesign the coin “with up to five different
half-dollar, and quarter-dollar coins ... shall bear a design
designs emblematic of the United States
determined by the Secretary to be emblematic of the
semiquincentennial.” Further, at least “one of the ... designs
Bicentennial of the American Revolution.” Figure 1 shows
must be emblematic of a woman’s or women’s contribution
the bicentennial quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coins.
to the birth of the Nation or the Declaration of
Independence or any other monumental moments” in
Figure 1. 1976 Bicentennial Coins
American history (§3). For dollar coins, the U.S. Mint is
authorized to issue coins “with designs emblematic of the
United States semiquincentennial” (§3). Any
semiquincentennial $1 coins issued would be in addition to
the regular issuance of Native American and American
Innovation $1 coins (§3).
Commemorative Medals
On two occasions (1876 and 1976), Congress authorized
the issuance of commemorative anniversary medals.
1876—100th Anniversary
In 1876, the United States celebrated its 100th anniversary.
To help celebrate the centennial, Congress authorized
medals be struck to commemorate the “one hundredth
anniversary of the first meeting of the Continental Congress
and the Declaration of Independence.” The law (18 Stat.
76) stated:
Source: U.S. Mint, “1976 Bicentennial Coins,” Image emailed to the
authors by the U.S. Mint, August 27, 2021.
That medals with appropriate devices, emblems and
inscriptions, commemorative of the Centennial
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence be
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Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
prepared at the Mint at Philadelphia for the
Legislation has also been introduced to authorize
Centennial Board of Finance....
commemorative coins for 2026.
These medals were issued as part of a larger Centennial
1926—150th Anniversary
International Exhibition of 1876 (i.e., Philadelphia World’s
In 1926, to celebrate the sesquicentennial (150th
Fair). Official medals were struck in silver, bronze, and gilt.
anniversary) of the signing of the Declaration of
The medals featured liberty on the obverse and “In
Independence, Congress authorized commemorative
Commemoration of the Hundredth Anniversary of
quarter-eagles and half-dollars (43 Stat. 1254). The quarter-
American Independence” on the reverse. Figure 2 shows
eagles featured Liberty on the obverse and Independence
the Independence Centennial Medal.
Hall on the reverse, while the half-dollar featured
Figure 2. 1876 Centennial Medal
Presidents Washington and Coolidge on the obverse and the
Liberty Bell on the reverse. Figure 4 shows the 1926
sesquicentennial quarter-eagle and half-dollar.
Figure 4. 1926 Sesquicentennial Quarter-eagle and
Half-dollar
Source: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American
History, “Independence Centennial Medal,” image emailed to the
authors by the Smithsonian, September 14, 2021.
1976—200th Anniversary
In February 1972, Congress authorized the U.S. Mint to
strike medals for the American Bicentennial in 1976 (P.L.
92-228). The American Revolution Bicentennial
Commission (ARBC) determined the medal’s design,
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. The
medal depicts the Statue of Liberty on the obverse with the
dates of 1776 and 1976, along with the words “Life Liberty
and the/Pursuit of Happiness,” and five pointed stars on the
surround edge [not pictured]. The reverse features the Great
Seal of the United States, with the Bicentennial logos, and
the words “American Revolution Bicentennial” at the top
and “We the People” at the bottom. The ARBC sold the
medal to help fund its bicentennial activities. Figure 3
shows an image of the 1976 Bicentennial Medal.
Source: U.S. Mint, “Sesquicentennial of American Independence
Quarter-eagle,” at https://go.usa.gov/xFzcC; and “Sesquicentennial of
Figure 3. 1976 National Bicentennial Medal
American Independence Half-dol ar,” at https://go.usa.gov/xFzcg.
2026—250th Anniversary (Proposed)
In the 117th Congress (2021-2022), bills have been
introduced to authorize commemorative coins to mark the
semiquincentennial. H.R. 4429 and S. 2384 are companion
measures that would authorize four commemorative
coins—a $25 gold, a $2.50 silver, a $0.25 clad, and a $2.50
proof five-ounce silver (§3(a)). These coins would be
issued in 2026 (§5(c)) and would each have inscriptions of
years 1776-2026, the denomination, and the words
“Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” “United States of America,”
Source: U.S. Mint, “1976 National Bicentennial Medal.” Image
and “E Pluribus Unum” (§4). Surcharges from the sale of
emailed to the authors by the U.S. Mint, August 27, 2021.
the coins would be paid to the America 250 Foundation
Commemorative Coins
(§7(b)).
For one anniversary celebration—the 150th anniversary of
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
the Declaration of Independence in 1926—Congress
Jared C. Nagel, Senior Research Librarian
authorized the issuance of commemorative coins.
IF11926
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Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
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