American Semiquincentennial Series Coin Designs

The United States Mint unveiled its designs for the American Semiquincentennial Series Coins to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence next year: https://wwwusmint.gov/news/media-kit/semi-q-resources#half-dollar Although only the nickel, dime and quarter are being minted currently for general circulation, the set, which will bear the dates 1776 ~2026, will include a one-cent coin and a half dollar in both uncirculated and proof sets. The set will focus on the American Revolution, American independence, the founding of the United States under the Constitutional union, and in liberty. Other than the “SemiQ” date, the penny and nickel designs will remain the same. Liberty will appear on the obverse of the “Emerging Liberty” Dime, with an eagle on the reverse and the inscription “LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY.” As I have posted, the Founders eschewed images on coins of themselves or other individuals – in deliberate contrast to the Roman Emperors, who put their own images on coins to promote public favor – and instead favored the Roman goddess of Liberty on obverses and eagles or other devices on the reverses. There will be five designs for the quarter dollar, issued in a series. The Mayflower Compact Quarter will feature a design of a Pilgrim couple on the obverse, with the Mayflower on the reverse and “MAYFLOWER COMPACT” as an inscription. The Revolutionary War Quarter features a bust of George Washington on the obverse and a Revolutionary War soldier at the Valley Forge Encampment and “REVOLUTIONARY WAR” on the reverse. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, appears on the obverse of the Declaration of Independence Quarter, which features a ringing Liberty Bell on the Reverse, with the inscription “DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.” The Father of the Constitution, James Madison, appears on the obverse of the U.S. Constitution Quarter, with Independence Hall and the inscription “U.S. CONSTITUTION.” It will be the first time Madison is featured on a regular-issue circulating coin. On the Gettysburg Address Quarter, an image of Abraham Lincoln appears on the obverse, and clasping hands with the inscription “A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY” on the reverse. The Enduring Liberty Half Dollar features an image of the Statue of Liberty on the obverse and a torch being passed from Liberty to the hand of another person on the reverse, with the inscription ‘KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY.” The Revolutionary War soldier on the reverse of the Revolutionary War Quarter, the Liberty Bell on the reverse of the Declaration of Independence Quarter and Independence Hall on the reverse of the U.S. Constitution Quarter are all evocative of the reverses on the Bicentennial Series Quarter, Dollar and Half Dollar coins, respectively. There was no announcement from the Mint about any change to Dollar coins. The regular designs will return in 2027. The SemiQ designs are fitting, educational and inspiring. In addition to inspiring appreciation for American independence, liberty, federal union, and representative government, it is hoped that the designs, like the Bicentennial Series, will encourage coin collecting.