U.S. Mint Releases Gettysburg Address Quarter, Final Coin in 2026 Semiquincentennial Series
The United States Mint has released the Gettysburg Address Quarter, the final quarter in its 2026 Semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Program celebrating 250 years of American liberty. The new quarter was released to Federal Reserve Banks and their designated coin terminals for distribution to financial institutions. The Mint formally celebrated the release alongside Gettysburg National Military Park, with U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and Mint Director Paul Hollis taking part in the event.
The coin features Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, giving collectors a new portrait of the 16th president created specifically for the Semiquincentennial program. According to the Mint, the design is intended to show the burden of the Civil War on Lincoln’s weathered face while his forward-looking gaze represents his determination to move the country forward as one nation.
The obverse inscriptions are “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “1776 ~ 2026.”
The reverse draws directly from the Gettysburg Address. Its central inscription reads “A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY,” taken from Lincoln’s 1863 speech. Two hands grasping one another represent Lincoln’s efforts to hold the country together and his appeal to Americans to honor those who died while preserving the principles for which they fought.
Additional reverse inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “25¢” and “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.”
“More than 160 years after President Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg, his words continue to resonate,” said United States Mint Director Paul Hollis. “This quarter carries his powerful message of liberty, sacrifice, and national purpose forward to a new generation.”
“Gettysburg is a place where the meaning of Lincoln’s words continues to resonate,” said Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Stephanie Stephens. “This quarter provides a unique opportunity to carry the Gettysburg Address—and its enduring message of sacrifice, liberty, and a government of the people—into the hands of Americans across the country.”
“As we reflect on the 250th anniversary of our country, the founding principles of liberty expressed in the Gettysburg Address continue to resonate,” said Barbara Sardella, interim President and CEO of Gettysburg Foundation. “Alongside the National Park Service at Gettysburg, we are committed to educating all generations and preserving the stories of those who sacrificed to protect these principles.”
The Gettysburg Address Quarter is particularly notable for collectors because it closes out the Mint’s 2026 Semiquincentennial circulating quarter program. The coins in the series were authorized under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 and were created to commemorate 250 years of American liberty through designs reflecting the country’s history and founding principles.
Unlike a commemorative coin sold only as a numismatic product, the Gettysburg Address Quarter is entering normal circulation. That means collectors may begin finding examples through banks, businesses and everyday change as distribution expands from Federal Reserve channels.
The U.S. Mint says additional information about its Semiquincentennial Coin and Medal Program and related collectible products is available through its website.