To mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, the 2026 cent, nickel, dime, quarters, half dollar and new dollar all carry the dual date 1776 ~ 2026. The dime, the quarter, the half dollar and the dollar also have one-year commemorative designs. The Mint began shipping the first of the new coins to Federal Reserve Banks on January 5, 2026.
The 2026 circulating designs
| Coin | Subject | Obverse | Reverse | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dime | Emerging Liberty | Liberty | Eagle in flight clutching arrows | January 5, 2026 |
| Quarter | Mayflower Compact | Two Pilgrims | The Mayflower | January 5, 2026 |
| Quarter | American Revolutionary War | George Washington | Continental Army soldier overlooking Valley Forge | March 23, 2026 |
| Quarter | Declaration of Independence | Thomas Jefferson | Liberty Bell | June 1, 2026 |
| Quarter | Constitution of the United States | James Madison | Independence Hall | August 10, 2026 |
| Quarter | Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | Two hands grasping each other | October 19, 2026 |
| Half dollar | Enduring Liberty | Statue of Liberty | Hands passing Liberty's torch | January 5, 2026 |
| Dollar | President Donald J. Trump | Portrait of President Trump | Presidential Seal eagle with a 250 shield | September 2, 2026 |
The five quarters tell the story of the nation's founding in order, from the Mayflower Compact of 1620 to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The cent and the nickel keep their current designs with the dual date.
Is there a 2026 penny?
Yes, but not in your change. The Mint stopped striking cents for circulation in November 2025, so 2026 cents are made only for collector sets sold by the Mint. Any 2026 cent you see was taken out of one of those sets. Read more in the end of the penny.
Why these coins exist
The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 authorized redesigned coins for the semiquincentennial. The same law created the American Women Quarters program of 2022 to 2025.
Collector reproductions
Alongside the circulating coins, the Mint is issuing gold collector reproductions of classic designs dated 2026. They include the 1916 Mercury dime, the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter, the 1916 Walking Liberty half dollar, the 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle and the famous 1804 dollar. These are sold only to collectors and do not circulate.
Are 2026 coins worth more than face value?
The circulating quarters, dimes and half dollars are struck in the hundreds of millions, so ordinary examples are worth face value. They are fun to collect as a set and any genuine minting errors on the new designs will attract attention. Our errors and varieties guide explains what to look for. Mintage figures for 2026 coins are still changing while production continues, so we will add them to the catalog once the Mint publishes final numbers.
The history behind the five quarters
The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard the Mayflower in November 1620, before the Pilgrims went ashore to found Plymouth Colony. It set out an agreement to form a civil government and follow its laws, an early example of self-government in the colonies. The Revolutionary War quarter recalls the Continental Army's winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1777 to 1778, under George Washington's command.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, which is why the Liberty Bell, also in Philadelphia, appears on the Jefferson quarter. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Independence Hall. James Madison is often called the Father of the Constitution for his role in drafting it. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Pennsylvania.
How the 1976 Bicentennial coins compare
The 2026 coins follow a precedent set fifty years earlier. For the Bicentennial, the quarter, half dollar and dollar received new reverses with the dual date 1776-1976. The quarter showed a colonial drummer boy designed by Jack L. Ahr. The half dollar showed Independence Hall, designed by Seth G. Huntington. The Eisenhower dollar showed the Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon, designed by Dennis R. Williams. The coins were struck in 1975 and 1976, so there are no quarters, halves or dollars dated 1975. San Francisco also struck 40% silver versions for collector sets.
Before that, the 1926 sesquicentennial of independence was marked with a commemorative half dollar and quarter eagle for the exposition held in Philadelphia. Those were sold to collectors and were not designed to circulate.
How to collect the 2026 designs
A complete set of the circulating designs from change means the dual-dated nickel, the new dime and the five quarters, ideally from both Philadelphia and Denver. Check the mint mark on each coin and keep the best example you find of each. Look for coins with sharp detail and few marks, since coins pulled from change pick up nicks quickly. Store them in an album or 2x2 holders rather than loose in a jar, where they scratch against each other.
Check new designs closely in the first months of release. Errors such as off-center strikes, die cracks and doubled lettering are usually discovered early on new designs and the dual date gives an extra area to inspect. Compare any suspected error with a normal coin of the same design before assuming it is significant.
Frequently asked questions
What does semiquincentennial mean?
It means the 250th anniversary. In 2026 the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Why do 1976 quarters have two dates?
They are Bicentennial quarters dated 1776-1976 for the 200th anniversary of independence. All quarters struck in 1975 and 1976 carry that dual date.