NGC -
A semiquincentennial promotion from the US Mint has created excitement among coin collectors but has also drawn interest from counterfeiters.Counterfeiting has a reputation for being a painstakingly slow process that targets vintage coins that have spent years earning a reputation for value. However, when a modern rarity bursts onto the numismatic scene, enterprising counterfeiters can still act quickly to try to cash in.
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Genuine 1776-2026 Declaration of Independence Quarter with July 4th PrivyFor the nation's semiquincentennial (which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence), the US Mint has struck hundreds of millions of 2026 Quarters with five designs honoring American history. Adding to the excitement for collectors, the Mint announced that 250,000 of these quarters (specifically, ones with the Declaration of Independence design) were minted with a special July 4th privy mark. These were then "randomly mixed in with other 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarters" and "made available to banks and financial institutions nationwide in time for the Fourth of July," according to a US Mint press release.
Counterfeit 1776-2026 Declaration of Independence Quarter with July 4th PrivyExamples of quarters with this privy mark have recently sold for hundreds of dollars at auction, creating an incentive for counterfeiters. Recently, the NGC grading team had the opportunity to examine a fake coin that turned up in an NGC submission.
Right off the bat, the coin raises a red flag: it weighs 5.86 grams instead of the expected 5.67 grams. Additionally, the design has several flaws, including a simple dash separating 1776 and 2026 on the obverse instead of the expected tilde.
Close-ups of genuine (left) and counterfeitThomas Jefferson's jacket is missing folds between the buttons, and the characters in the JULY 4th privy mark are crowded together.
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Close-ups of genuine (left) and counterfeitMeanwhile, the counterfeit is missing the end of Jefferson's ponytail (formally called a queue). A close examination of the cheek reveals horizontal lines that were left behind during the laser-engraving process used to produce the counterfeit dies with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine.
Close-ups of genuine (top) and counterfeitOn the reverse side, the BS initials (representing sculptor
Benjamin Sowards) are much too large. Nearby, the design of the Liberty Bell has multiple issues, including missing its inside rim and texture. The laser-engraving process also affected the left edges of some of the letters, including the NI in UNITED.
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