The U.S. government is preparing to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary next summer with a new series of coins. The United States Mint revealed the designs on Wednesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These commemorative coins, which will appear on the 2026 dime, quarter, and half-dollar, honor the nation’s semiquincentennial milestone.
Acting Mint Director Kristie McNally said the designs “depict the story of America’s journey toward a ‘more perfect union’ and celebrate America’s defining ideals of liberty. We hope to offer each American the opportunity to hold our nation’s storied 250 years of history in the palms of their hands.” The coins were authorized under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which passed unanimously in Congress and was signed into law in early 2021. Each coin will carry the dual dates 1776 and 2026, and the quarter will feature five distinct designs.
The dime showcases Lady Liberty on the obverse, with her liberty cap adorned in stars and stripes, while the reverse depicts an eagle in flight clutching arrows, representing the American Revolution. Inscriptions include “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “ONE DIME,” and “LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY.”
The half-dollar obverse shows a close-up of the Statue of Liberty, while the reverse portrays Liberty passing the torch to a new generation, accompanied by the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “HALF DOLLAR,” and “KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY.”
The quarter designs highlight key moments and figures in U.S. history. One features two Pilgrims gazing at the New World, with the reverse showing the Mayflower sailing west. Another displays George Washington on the obverse and a Continental Army soldier at Valley Forge on the reverse, symbolizing the challenges faced during the Revolutionary War. A separate design honors Thomas Jefferson with the Liberty Bell on the reverse, while James Madison’s obverse features a depiction of Independence Hall on the reverse. Finally, Abraham Lincoln is featured on the obverse, with the reverse showing two hands clasping beneath the inscription “A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY,” referencing his Gettysburg Address.
These coins aim to capture pivotal moments and figures in American history, celebrating 250 years of independence, liberty, and the nation’s enduring ideals.