America’s birthday party continues.
The United States Mint on [March 23] unveiled a Revolutionary War-themed quarter at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, continuing the yearlong celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
The coin’s debut is part of the Mint’s 2026 semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Program, a one-year initiative honoring 250 years of American independence with redesigned U.S. currency. The program includes updated designs for the dime, nickel, quarter and half dollar, many with the dual date “1776-2026,” along with special collector editions and symbolic features such as a Liberty Bell “250” privy mark.
[The] event at Mount Vernon marked the first public release of the Revolutionary War Quarter, one of five quarter designs planned for 2026 that highlight key moments from the nation’s founding era. The new coin specifically honors the endurance of the Continental Army, featuring imagery tied to the hardships at Valley Forge on the back and George Washington on the front.
At the event, the Mint distributed 1,500 coins to guests while supplies lasted.
“2026 is a very big year, as all of us celebrate 250 years of American liberty and independence … We would have no country without George Washington, and we want everyone to come to Mount Vernon to learn more in this very special anniversary year,” Anne Neal Petri, the 24th regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, said at the ceremony.
“How appropriate to have a Revolutionary War coin commemorating his willingness to sacrifice his life, his property and his sacred honor for us,” Petri added.
The launch took place at the historic estate of George Washington, where the nation’s first president lived before and after the Revolutionary War.
“Mount Vernon … is not only the home of George Washington, but it’s a living symbol of the ideals that shaped our nation,” said Brandon Beach, the 46th treasurer of the U.S.
“We gather here on these historic grounds to unveil one of America’s 250 quarters, which feels especially meaningful. By launching this coin in such a place we’re connecting the story that tells with the ground where the history was shaped,” Beach added. “Coinage has always been one of the most enduring storytellers of the American experience.”
Doug Bradburn, Mount Vernon’s president and CEO, further reflected on the symbolism of the coin.
“There is a certain irony to what we’re celebrating today. George Washington appears on this new quarter, as he has appeared on American currency for generations,” Bradburn said. “And yet, Washington himself resisted the idea of placing his image on coins and on official documents. For him, the practice felt like it was too much of the old world that we were trying to leave behind in this Republic. He believed the focus should be on ideals, not individuals.
“This new Revolutionary War quarter … gives Americans, and especially young visitors, to hold a piece of that story in their hands. A simple object becomes a powerful reminder of the ideals that shaped this nation.”
The event also featured a display of the rare Washington President Gold Eagle Pattern Coin, an early American numismatic artifact created by Jacob Perkins, with only about 20 examples known to exist.
The Revolutionary War Quarter is the second release in the semiquincentennial program, which was authorized by Congress to commemorate the nation’s founding. Additional designs in the series will depict moments such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Beyond circulating coins, the Mint is releasing special gold and silver collector versions, along with redesigned pieces such as the “Emerging Liberty” dime, which is the first major change to the coin in decades.
Most designs will return to their traditional appearance after 2026, concluding the ongoing tribute to America’s 250th anniversary.
This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
