2026 Mayflower Compact Quarter: Ship Design, Release Dates and Collector Versions

In this article

What is the 2026 Mayflower Compact quarter?

The 2026 Mayflower Compact quarter is a U.S. 25-cent coin with two Pilgrims on the obverse and the Mayflower sailing on the reverse. It is the first of five 2026 anniversary quarter themes and carries 1776–2026. The Compact belongs to 1620; the coin’s dual date marks the nation’s 250th anniversary, not the date of the voyage.

Circulation shipments began January 5, 2026; Mint rolls and bags followed February 5. Ordinary P and D coins are copper-nickel clad. A worn circulation example starts at $0.25. Collector uncirculated coins, S clad Proofs and S silver Proofs should be valued separately; neither the ship nor the anniversary date alone makes a coin rare.

Recognize both sides of the Mayflower quarter

Mayflower Compact · Denver obverse: Two Pilgrims embrace; read the dual date and D mint mark. — **Mayflower Compact · Denver obverse**Two Pilgrims embrace; read the dual date and D mint mark.

Mayflower Compact · reverse: The ship, MAYFLOWER COMPACT and 25¢ identify this theme. — **Mayflower Compact · reverse**The ship, MAYFLOWER COMPACT and 25¢ identify this theme.

Why a 1620 agreement appears on a 2026 quarter

The anniversary series looks beyond the Declaration of Independence to earlier and later chapters in American history. The Mayflower Compact represents an early agreement to organize a community through consent. Its inclusion does not place the voyage or agreement in 1776.

The two sides tell different parts of that story. The embracing Pilgrims bring the human experience of arrival into view; the ship emphasizes the Atlantic crossing. Look at both faces before deciding that an unfamiliar quarter is a token. Washington is intentionally absent from this particular design.

The complete 2026 quarter guide covers the other four themes and the program-wide release timeline. The Revolutionary War quarter moves the narrative forward to Washington and Valley Forge.

Basic specifications and issue dates

Regular Mayflower circulation quarter
Feature	Identification
Denomination	25 cents; 25¢ appears on the reverse.
Date	1776–2026; a commemorative dual date.
Regular mint marks	P for Philadelphia; D for Denver.
Metal and size	Copper-nickel clad; 5.670 g; 24.26 mm; reeded edge.
Circulation shipment	January 5, 2026; local distribution can be later.
Rolls and bags sale	February 5, 2026; a separate collector-product release.

The standard weight describes a new clad coin. Wear, a scale’s precision and surface deposits can affect a measurement. Do not assign a metal composition from one uncertain reading.

Mint marks and versions: what to compare

Start with the design and full date

Find the ship and read MAYFLOWER COMPACT. Turn the coin over and confirm the Pilgrims and 1776–2026. A ship on an unrelated coin does not establish this identity. A coin reading 1776–1976 belongs to the earlier Bicentennial program.

Separate circulation coins from Proofs

Regular P and D examples can come from circulation or collector offerings. S Proofs exist in clad and 99.9% silver versions. The S identifies a mint, not a metal; establish the product and finish before comparing prices. Keep packaging or certification details with a collector coin.

Do not confuse this theme with the July 4 privy issue

The special July 4 privy belongs to the Declaration of Independence quarter. It is not a Mayflower variety. A listing that borrows the limited quantity of another theme is not a valid price comparison for your ship quarter.

Mayflower quarter value and error claims

Value checkpoints · reviewed October 16, 2026
Coin / version	Condition	Value basis	What supports a premium	Comparison limit
P / D regular	Worn circulation coin	$0.25 face-value baseline	A separately verified mint error	The design alone adds no established premium.
P / D collector example	Uncirculated	No verified sold-price range established here	Preservation and matching recent sales	A roll price covers multiple coins.
S clad Proof	Collector strike	Compare clad Proof sales	Grade and surface quality	Do not compare with silver Proofs.
S silver Proof	99.9% silver collector strike	Compare silver Proof sales	Metal, grade and collector demand	S alone does not prove silver.

Before calling a feature an error, compare it with the normal design: the ship’s rigging, waves, embraces and dual date are intended. Photograph an unusual feature under different lighting. A scratch, flattened letter or stain is not enough to establish a minting error.

For a potential purchase, match the theme, mint, finish, metal and grade in completed sales. Record whether the price includes one coin, a roll or a set. Use the coin appraisal guide if a specific, well-documented feature warrants closer examination.

The key takeaway

Identify the Mayflower quarter by its Pilgrims, ship, 25¢ and 1776–2026 date. Its subject is the 1620 Compact; its issue year is 2026. January 5 circulation shipments and February 5 collector sales are different events. Start worn P/D clad coins at face value and compare Proofs or other collector examples only with the same version.

Frequently asked questions

When was the 2026 Mayflower quarter released?

Circulation shipments began January 5, 2026. U.S. Mint rolls and bags went on sale February 5; local banks may receive coins later.

Why does the Mayflower quarter say 1776–2026?

The dual date marks 250 years of U.S. independence. The Mayflower voyage and Compact belong to 1620, not 1776.

Is the 2026 Mayflower quarter silver?

Regular P and D coins are copper-nickel clad. S clad Proof and S 99.9% silver Proof versions exist, so the mint mark alone cannot establish the metal.

Is a Mayflower quarter worth more than 25 cents?

A normal worn circulation example starts at 25 cents. Collector versions or verified errors need separate comparisons; the ship design and dual date alone do not establish a premium.

References

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