In 2026, as part of the United States’ 250th-anniversary celebration, circulating coins will feature exclusive designs, including a special series of five Semiquincentennial quarters spotlighting pivotal periods in American history. Released in sequence, these quarters will focus on significant themes: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, Abolitionism, Suffrage, and Civil Rights. With candidate designs for the series evaluated and approved, this article examines the selected designs for the Civil Rights quarter.
Designs for the 2026 quarters were reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Oct. 15, followed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Oct. 17.
The U.S. Mint’s narrative for the 2026 Civil Rights quarter theme states, in part:
"To address issues faced by African Americans following the Civil War, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were enacted with the intention of ensuring equal protection under the law regardless of race…
On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges made history as she marched into William Frantz Elementary School, escorted by her mother and four armed federal marshals. All the white students stayed home from school the day Ruby entered Frantz Elementary. Ruby continued her studies without missing a day, despite being the only student as others refused to attend class with her…
The [quarter’s] obverse features the concept of Liberty as depicted by six-year-old Ruby Bridges. She symbolizes the larger Civil Rights Movement, the resilience of its advocates, and the reassertion of our country’s founding principles…
The [quarter’s] reverse is emblematic of the Civil Rights Movement and its quest to work through division and strive for equality, all in pursuit of "a more perfect union."
A total of six obverse and eight reverse candidates were evaluated. Ultimately, the CCAC and CFA agreed on the same obverse design but differed slightly in their reverse design recommendations. The selected pairings are shown in the topmost images, with the CCAC’s choices in the first row and the CFA’s in the second.
CCAC Design Recommendations
The CCAC’s favored obverse, O-01, features six-year-old Ruby Bridges in profile, holding her schoolbooks close to her chest. Her steadfast yet gentle expression captures both her determination to pursue education and her youthful innocence, symbolizing a pivotal moment in the fight for equality.
Their chosen reverse, R-02, portrays Americans marching arm-in-arm, a tribute to one of the most iconic events of the Civil Rights Movement — the Selma to Montgomery marches. The design spans age and gender, conveying collective resolve, with the inscription "WE SHALL OVERCOME" underscoring their unwavering determination.
CFA Design Recommendations
The CFA also recommended obverse design O-01 but preferred the closer perspective depicted in reverse design R-02A over the CCAC’s selection of R-02, stating:
"The Commission members recommended obverse #O-1 and reverse #R-2A as a simple and strong pairing. They observed that the CCAC’s preference for reverse #R-2 would result in the awkward use of anonymized portraits within a well-known historical scene. They instead supported the cropped composition of reverse #R-2A, requesting an adjustment to emphasize the interlocked arms by including more than three people, and perhaps by reducing the height of this central panel if necessary.
For the inscription ‘We Shall Overcome’, they recommended using the simpler block lettering historically associated with the protest signs and banners of the Civil Rights movement; the fonts of the remaining inscriptions should be coordinated between the obverse and reverse."
U.S. Mint images and descriptions of all proposed designs for the 2026 Civil Rights quarter are provided below.
Obverse Candidate Designs for the 2026 Civil Rights Quarter
CRQ-O-01, CRQ-O-01A, and CRQ-O-01B feature a six-year-old Ruby Bridges in profile, her schoolbooks clutched to her chest. Her steadfast but gentle gaze highlights both her resolve to receive an education and her youthful innocence, placing a young girl at the forefront of historic change. These designs illustrate how America’s foundational ideals of liberty and equality are reaffirmed throughout its history by courageous acts that galvanize the nation to fulfill its bold promises. In the background of Design 01A, silhouetted children can be seen walking to school. In Design 01B, she is escorted by a Deputy U.S. Marshal, a somber reminder of the threats to Ruby’s safety and the pervasive violence of the era.
CRQ-O-02 showcases a full-length portrait of six-year-old Ruby Bridges, schoolbooks clutched in her hand. Her soft yet purposeful stride captures her youthful innocence and the significance of the moment. Behind Ruby, a line of silhouetted children can be seen. These children, representing all who came after Ruby, know only an America shaped by her actions and those who fought for civil rights.
CRQ-O-03 depicts young Ruby Bridges seated at her desk in her classroom. She gazes forward, intent to learn and receive an education. The desks around her remain empty; no white parents would allow their children to be educated with her, starkly highlighting the prejudice of the era.
CRQ-O-04 features six-year-old Ruby Bridges in profile, her youthful features and bow in her hair emphasizing her tender age. Other children are cast in silhouettes, symbolizing the powerful and cascading impact of the Civil Rights movement. This design exemplifies the power of everyday Americans, no matter their age, to catalyze transformational social change.
Reverse Candidate Designs for the 2026 Civil Rights Quarter
CRQ-R-01, CRQ-R-02 and CRQ-R-02A depict Americans, locked arm-in-arm as they march, evoking one of the most iconic moments of the Civil Rights Movement, the Selma to Montgomery marches. They span age and gender, moving forward with steely determination, echoed in the inscription "WE SHALL OVERCOME." These designs are a striking tribute to the collective courage, unity, and strength demonstrated by those who fought for a more equitable future. They powerfully illustrate how Americans, when united in purpose and action, are the driving force behind transformative change that defines the nation’s character and reshapes its future.
CRQ-R-03 features a pair of clasped hands set against a waving American Flag, representing the everyday Americans who joined together to fight for equality during the Civil Rights Movement. This powerful imagery reinforces the idea that America’s founding ideals are fundamentally grounded in unity. It binds the struggle for Civil Rights through its iconic phrase, "WE SHALL OVERCOME."
CRQ-R-04 and CRQ-R-05 show Civil Rights marchers walking across a bridge, referencing the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches, three protest marches held along the 54-mile highway between the two cities. They move in unwavering solidarity, undeterred by the significant violence and racial injustice that lay in their path.
By hoisting American flags as they cross the bridge, this diverse group of citizens sends a clear and profound message: through collective action, they are bridging the gap between America’s founding ideals and the stark reality of inequality that plagues the nation. They demonstrate that the struggle for civil rights is a call of action for the nation to reaffirm its founding ideals of equality and freedom, aligning itself with the vision of democracy laid out in the founding documents.
CRQ-R-06 depicts a young boy as he holds an American flag across his shoulders, his joyful expression and open arms embodying what the Civil Rights Movement fought for — a hope for a just and equitable future. Behind him, profiles of diverse Americans come together, symbolizing the coalition necessary to fight for Civil Rights. These figures also illustrate that the American ideals of liberty and freedom apply to all citizens, regardless of background, to truly reflect the fullest expression of our nation’s ideals.
CRQ-R-07 depict the Scales of Justice, with the weighty promise of liberty tipping down to one side. On the other side, a man is helped onto the scale, acknowledging the work of Civil Rights activists to "balance the scales." This design illustrates that the power lies with the people to uplift one another, Americans’ collective effort in striving to meet the ideals of liberty, freedom, and equality set out in our founding principles.
I can hear the Anti-Woke chorus now for these 2026 quarter designs! LOL. But in all fairness, I’m done with alternating quarter designs already. Overkill times tediousness. Does anyone remember pogs that kids used to collect in the 90’s? The number of alternating quarter designs reminds me of pogs.
I’m sure you’re not alone with your thinking. After the AWQ program ends, I’m giving it a rest. I’ll really only continue with the silver bullion issues until the prices get out of hand.
Being politically incorrect, I think I already saw some of these designs on campaign buttons this year. “We shall overcome” and “Votes for Women” was about all I heard before the election.
“We Shall Over Come.” This is an outdated and socially inflammatory slogan for modern American times. In modern terms, I find it offensive. Who do you want to overcome? The American government? American Society? Are you looking for a fight? WTF? Why put this inflammatory message on our modern coins? What about “One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Oh, you forgot about that one. Maybe it is time to think as one and our circulating coinage should reflect us as one.
Think
E 1,
We have always had a non-religious and as such less complicated version of the unity theme, as in E Pluribus Unum = Out of Many, One.
Always searching for ways to be oppressed when not. “Want it to end? Stop talking about it”.- Morgan Freeman when race baited on one of those late night shows.
I was on the fence with the Women’s theme. Looks like the mint made the decision much easier.
I still don’t understand how many of these designs are going to translate into actual struck examples – all these pencil drawings have lots of shading gradiations which simply can’t be easily reflected when cut into a single-color piece of metal. and they all look extremely busy, like whoever drew them forgot that they were making a piece of art that will be not much more than 1 square inch in size, so much of the detail will likely be lost. I feel bad for the mint engraver
The designs look good in proof which helps with the shading, the circulated variety not so much IMO.
For the Reverse, CRQ-R-01, which was not chosen by either august body.
Put it on a stamp. Move On Dot Com.
Oh, now I get it. Cancel out George Washington. Where did George go? Where did who go……? The 2021 “Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter” was my favorite quarter design of the last twenty years. That design was good for at least a decade, and it only ran for 6 months. I’m so burnt out on the rotating reverse quarters now. No interest in them anymore. The statehood quarters were great and it should have ended there. But it turned into a no value circus cluster. Nothing unique or special about any of these different quarters I see today. Just a… Read more »
Only worth spending. ‘Nuf said. Here’s a thought, how about returning to an allegorical design that does not depict someone? They can start by placing an eagle on the reverse.