Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

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Updated March 20, 2023
Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, the United States celebrates the anniversary of
John F. Kennedy on the obverse and Independence Hall on
the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence with a
the reverse. The bicentennial dollar includes a portrait of
federal holiday called Independence Day. For certain
Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse and the Liberty Bell
milestone anniversaries (every 50 years), Congress has
and the moon on the reverse.
authorized the temporary design of circulating coins, or the
issuance of medals or commemorative coins. These
2026—250th Anniversary
milestone celebrations occurred in 1826, 1876, 1926, and
In the 116th Congress, Congress enacted the Circulating
1976. The 250th anniversary occurs in 2026. This In Focus
Collectible Coin Redesign Act (P.L. 116-330) to authorize
provides a historical overview of circulating coins, medals,
the temporary redesign of all circulating coins for the 2026
and commemorative coins for past anniversary celebrations
semiquincentennial. The law requires that the Secretary of
and the upcoming semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary.
the Treasury select coin designs in consultation with the
U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens
Circulating Coinage
Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Additionally, the
For two anniversary celebrations—1976 and 2026—
Secretary is required to devise a “design selection process
Congress authorized the temporary redesign of circulating
developed ... in consultation with the United States
coins.
Semiquincentennial Commission and with
recommendations from the general public” (§3).
1976—200th Anniversary
For 1976, to celebrate the bicentennial, Congress authorized
The Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act provides
special designs of the quarter, half-dollar, and dollar (P.L.
specific instructions for the reverse of 2026 quarters and
93-127). Congress specified that the bicentennial coins
dollar coins. For quarters, the U.S. Mint is authorized to
maintain the same obverse as then-circulating coins, but
redesign the quarter’s reverse “with up to five different
include two dates—1776 and 1976—rather than the
designs emblematic of the United States
standard single date. Further, “the reverse side of all dollar,
semiquincentennial.” Further, at least “one of the ... designs
half-dollar, and quarter-dollar coins ... shall bear a design
must be emblematic of a woman’s or women’s contribution
determined by the Secretary to be emblematic of the
to the birth of the Nation or the Declaration of
Bicentennial of the American Revolution.” Figure 1 shows
Independence or any other monumental moments” in
the bicentennial quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coins.
American history (§3). For dollar coins, the U.S. Mint is
authorized to issue coins “with designs emblematic of the
Figure 1. 1976 Bicentennial Coins
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:

That medals with appropriate devices, emblems and
Source: U.S. Mint, “1976 Bicentennial Coins,” Image emailed to the
inscriptions, commemorative of the Centennial
author by the U.S. Mint, August 27, 2021.
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence be
prepared at the Mint at Philadelphia for the
The bicentennial quarter has a portrait of George
Centennial Board of Finance....
Washington on the obverse and a colonial drummer on the
reverse. The bicentennial half-dollar features a portrait of
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Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
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 ($2.50 cent coins) and half-dollars (43 Stat.
American Independence” on the reverse. Figure 2 shows
1254). The quarter-eagles featured Liberty on the obverse
the Independence Centennial Medal.
and Independence Hall on the reverse, while the half-dollar
featured Presidents Washington and Coolidge on the
Figure 2. 1876 Centennial Medal
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
author 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 were introduced to
authorize commemorative coins to mark the
semiquincentennial. Those bills (H.R. 4429 and S. 2384)
would have authorized four commemorative coins—a $25
gold, a $2.50 silver, a $0.25 clad, and a $2.50 proof five-
ounce silver (§3(a)) to be issued in 2026 (§5(c)). Each
proposed coin would have had the inscriptions of years
1776-2026, the denomination, and the words “Liberty,” “In
God We Trust,” “United States of America,” and “E
Source: U.S. Mint, “1976 National Bicentennial Medal.” Image
Pluribus Unum” (§4). Surcharges from the sale of the coins
emailed to the author by the U.S. Mint, August 27, 2021.
would have been paid to the America 250 Foundation
(§7(b)). Neither measure was considered by the House or
Commemorative Coins
Senate. To date, legislation to authorize commemorative
For one anniversary celebration—the 150th anniversary of
coins for the 250th anniversary has not been introduced in
the Declaration of Independence in 1926—Congress
the 118th Congress (2023-2024).
authorized the issuance of commemorative coins.
Legislation was introduced in the 117th Congress (2021-
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
2022) to authorize commemorative coins for 2026, but was
not enacted.
IF11926
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Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11926 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED