For 2026 only, the US Mint redesigned the dime, the half dollar and the quarter, which carries five different designs, to mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. The nickel and the cent keep their familiar designs but carry the dual date "1776 ~ 2026". The 2026 penny exists only in collector products, because circulating cent production ended in November 2025.
This guide to the 2026 Semiquincentennial coins covers what each one shows, when the five quarters reached circulation, why there is no 2026 penny in your change, and how to tell circulation coins from collector versions. It deliberately prints no values; condition and grade decide those, and we explain where to check.
What changed for 2026, coin by coin
The redesign was authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, signed into law on 13 January 2021, and the Mint began shipping the new coins to the Federal Reserve on 5 January 2026, according to its 14 January 2026 press release. The designs below are as described on the Mint's Semiquincentennial resources page.
| Coin | 2026 design | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| Cent (penny) | Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait and the union shield reverse used since 2010, with the dual date | Collector products only |
| Nickel | Jefferson obverse with "Liberty" in his handwriting, Monticello reverse, with the dual date | Circulation |
| Dime | "Emerging Liberty": Liberty with a starred and striped cap; an eagle in flight carrying arrows, with LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY | Circulation |
| Quarter | Five designs, from the Mayflower Compact to the Gettysburg Address | Circulation |
| Half dollar | "Enduring Liberty": a close-up of the Statue of Liberty; Liberty passing her torch to a new generation, with KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY | Included in the Mint's first 2026 circulating shipments |
Philadelphia and Denver struck the circulation coins, as Coin World reported in February 2026. Proof versions for collectors come from San Francisco and carry an S, covered further down; the Mint's rolls and bags for collectors carry P and D, like the coins in change.
The five 2026 quarter designs and when they arrived
The 2026 quarters are five one-year designs, released one at a time through the year. Each replaces the standard Washington portrait with a new obverse and pairs it with a matching scene on the reverse.
| Order | Design | Obverse | Reverse | Released into circulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayflower Compact | Two Pilgrims embracing | The Mayflower under full sail | 5 January 2026 |
| 2 | Revolutionary War | George Washington | A Continental soldier at Valley Forge | 23 March 2026 |
| 3 | Declaration of Independence | Thomas Jefferson | The cracked Liberty Bell ringing | 1 June 2026 |
| 4 | U.S. Constitution | James Madison | Independence Hall with WE THE PEOPLE | 10 August 2026 |
| 5 | Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | Two clasped hands with A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY | 19 October 2026 |
The dates are each design's release into circulation as reported by the Mint and the coin press; for the Mayflower, Constitution and Gettysburg quarters, that is the day the Mint began shipping to the Federal Reserve. A release date is not the day a coin reaches a particular bank in Arizona. The first date is from the Mint's January release; the Revolutionary War, Declaration and Constitution dates are as reported by CoinNews in August 2026, and the Gettysburg date by CoinWeek in October 2026. The Mint marked the Revolutionary War release at George Washington's Mount Vernon and the Gettysburg release at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
For collectors who want every design without searching change, the Mint has offered each design in two-roll sets, one Philadelphia and one Denver roll, and in 100-coin bags from each facility, as CoinNews reported. CoinWeek reported Gettysburg Address rolls and bags scheduled to go on sale on 13 November 2026. For working through rolls once you have them, see our guide to bulk coin lots and rolls.
The 2026 dime and half dollar
The 2026 dime is the first change to the dime's design in 80 years, according to the Mint. Its obverse shows a determined Liberty with what the Mint calls the "winds of revolution" in her hair, and its reverse shows an eagle in flight carrying arrows, with the inscription LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY.
The Roosevelt design returns on the dime in 2027, and the quarter and half dollar move to a four-year program honoring youth sports and Paralympic sports, according to CoinNews in January 2026. That makes the Emerging Liberty dime a single-year type.
The 2026 half dollar steps away from the Kennedy portrait for its Enduring Liberty design, and the Mint included it in its first 2026 shipments to the Federal Reserve alongside the dime and the Mayflower quarter.
Is there a 2026 penny?
Yes, but not in circulation. The Mint held a ceremonial final strike of the circulating one-cent coin in Philadelphia on 12 November 2025, ending 232 years of circulating production, according to its press release. The same release gives the cost of making a penny as having risen from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents over the previous decade, and confirms that the penny remains legal tender.
The 2026 cent is the Lincoln cent with the union shield reverse and the dual date. The Mint describes it as a coin that will no longer circulate in pocket change but can still be bought as a collectible, and Coin World reported that it is produced only for Uncirculated Mint Sets, Proof Sets and Silver Proof Sets. A 2026-dated cent found in change has most likely come out of one of those sets.
Everything else about older pennies is unchanged: existing cents still spend, and the Mint estimated about 300 billion in circulation at the final strike. For the cents collectors do chase from pocket change, see our guide to Lincoln wheat cent key dates.
How to tell circulation coins from collector versions
Start with the mint mark: an S means a proof. Circulation strikes and the Mint's rolls and bags come from Philadelphia and Denver, while every coin in the 2026 Proof Set was struck at San Francisco and carries an S, as CoinWeek described when the set went on sale in October 2026. That ten-coin set holds the cent, nickel, dime, all five quarters, the half dollar and the Native American dollar. Our explainer on what mint marks mean covers the letters and the mints behind them.
Finish is the second clue. A proof coin is struck for collectors rather than for change, usually with mirror-like fields and frosted design elements, and silver proof versions of the dime, quarters and half dollar are also issued. Silver proofs are struck in silver, and today's silver spot price is on our live spot silver page.
Other 2026 collector coins carry the anniversary too. The Mint lists dual-dated American Buffalo, American Eagle, Morgan and Peace collectible coins with a "250" Liberty Bell privy mark, and the 2026-W Proof Silver Eagle carries both, as CoinNews reported at its February 2026 launch.
Claims of errors and varieties on new coins spread quickly online. A doubled design or an off-metal strike is only as good as its attribution by a grading service, and our guide on how to research a coin's value before a dealer visit explains how to check a find before you rely on it.
This article is educational and reflects general information about precious metals and collectible coins. It is not investment, tax or legal advice, and Copper State Coin & Bullion is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer or tax professional. Metal prices fluctuate and past performance does not indicate future results. Consult a qualified professional about your own situation.
Finding 2026 coins through Copper State
Our online store lists the 2026 1 oz American Silver Eagle in bullion form. The dual-dated Eagles above are the Mint's collectible versions, so ask us which version a listing is before you buy it for the anniversary design. For 2026 quarters, sets or a 2026 cent, call either store and ask what is in the case that day.
If you are after a specific 2026 piece we do not have, our want list service lets you send us the list and we will let you know when we locate an item on it; ask us about any fee or time limit when you send it. And if you are selling a set or a graded 2026 coin, ask about our complimentary appraisal for sellers.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 2026 penny?
Yes, but only as a collectible. The Mint ended circulating cent production with a ceremonial final strike in Philadelphia on 12 November 2025. The 2026 cent, with the Lincoln portrait, union shield reverse and the dual date 1776 ~ 2026, is made for collector products such as Uncirculated Mint Sets, Proof Sets and Silver Proof Sets.
How many 2026 quarter designs are there?
Five. In order of release they are the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Gettysburg Address quarters. Their obverses show two Pilgrims, Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln. The Mint began shipping the last of them, the Gettysburg Address quarter, to the Federal Reserve on 19 October 2026.
What is on the 2026 dime?
The 2026 dime is the Emerging Liberty design. The obverse shows Liberty wearing a cap with stars and stripes, and the reverse shows an eagle in flight carrying arrows with the inscription LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY. It is a one-year design: the Roosevelt dime returns in 2027, according to CoinNews reporting on the Mint's plans.
Are 2026 quarters worth more than face value?
A circulated 2026 quarter spends as 25 cents. Coins in high uncirculated or proof grades, and varieties attributed by a grading service, are priced by grade in published guides, and we do not print values here because they change. If you are selling a set or a graded coin, ask about our complimentary appraisal for sellers.
Where can I get 2026 coins in the Phoenix area?
Circulation coins reach Arizona through banks as the Federal Reserve distributes them, and the Mint sells rolls, bags and sets directly. For 2026 coins and sets in our cases, call our Phoenix store on Bell Road or our Peoria store on Thunderbird Road and ask what is in stock that day.
Call Copper State Coin & Bullion
Whether you are filling a 2026 set, checking a find or selling a collection, call either store and we will tell you what we have and how we can help. Our team brings over 40 years of numismatic and bullion experience to the counter.
Copper State Coin & Bullion - Phoenix
4550 E Bell Road Suite 188
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(602) 377-1944
Mon-Fri 9:00 am-5:00 pm · Sat 9:00 am-4:00 pm · Sun closed
Copper State Coin & Bullion - Peoria
8360 W. Thunderbird Road C#103
Peoria, AZ 85381
(623) 432-3953
Mon-Fri 9:00 am-5:00 pm · Sat 9:00 am-4:00 pm · Sun closed
