The 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America from the British Empire is the big celebration in 2026, and as you would expect, the coin world is diving in enthusiastically. The Declaration of Independence took place on July 4th 1776, drafted by such luminaries as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, after a conflict lasting several years. Taxation and representation are the popular reasons for the revolution, although the real reasons were considerably more complex, and widely discussed in academic circles to this day. Blessed with abundant resources, and little in the way of natural enemies by way of geography, the US thrived, and today, stands as one of the most successful nations in history.

Numistrade have quite a popular range of bullion coins, even if many collectors don’t recognise the name of the company. Foremost amongst these is the African Ounce issued for Rwanda, which recently enjoyed its 19th annual issue with the Spotted Hyena, and a series that has been a staple of the annual bullion calendar for years. Now ten years old, the Nautical Ounce, depicts famous sailing vessels from history, and the Lunar Ounce, also a decade old, does the same for the Chinese calendar. They recently expanded their portfolio to include a Sporting Ounce, with a set of 80 mm diameter variants.

The latest coin is not the start of a new series, but a solitary release celebrating the US anniversary. The design ethos is clearly from the same people as the aforementioned series were, right down to using the same common Rwandan obverse. The central area is based around stars and a Bald Eagle, a pair of tropes we suspect will anchor many a design this year. The composition is filled out with the Liberty Bell, the Capitol Building, and the Statue of Liberty. It’s actually a very well-thought-out composition, and an attractive one, doubly so for a bullion coin.

There are 1oz and 1/12oz (2.6 gram) silver variants, and 1/4oz and 1/12oz gold. No sign of proof versions yet, which may or may not appear in the future as they do with the other ranges. A nice, relatively affordable addition to the celebrations. Available to pre-order now, with shipping commencing in June.