Which historic agreement is honored by one of the 2026 Semiquincentennial quarters?

The Mayflower Compact is honored by one of the 2026 Semiquincentennial quarters.

The compact was signed in 1620 by English settlers aboard the Mayflower before they established Plymouth Colony. It created a framework for self-government based on agreement among the settlers, making it a frequently cited document in the history of colonial political traditions.

The 2026 quarter design includes two Pilgrims on the obverse and the Mayflower on the reverse. It is one of five special quarters in the anniversary series, alongside designs connected with the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.

The Mayflower Compact is often confused with the Declaration of Independence because both are associated with American self-government. They are separated by more than 150 years and served different purposes: the compact organized governance within a colony, while the Declaration announced the colonies’ break from British rule.