US Mint Issues Special 1776-2026 Designs for Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar The U.S. Mint is launching a series of commemorative coins to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The redesigns, featuring dual dates of 1776-2026, will be available for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. These coins are part of a broader effort to honor America’s history and celebrate its enduring legacy. U.S. Mint Director Paul Hollis emphasized the significance of the redesigns, calling it the most substantial update to U.S. coins in over a century. The changes, which will be available for a limited time, include updated designs that reflect key moments in American history. Hollis expressed hope that the coins would be cherished by Americans and passed down to future generations, serving as a tangible connection to the nation’s story. The “Liberty Dime” will feature a design inspired by the 1790s dime, incorporating imagery of Lady Liberty. For the quarters, five new designs will be released, each representing a pivotal moment in the nation’s founding. These include the Mayflower Compact, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and a Gettysburg Address quarter that highlights President Abraham Lincoln. The half dollar will showcase a portrait of Lady Liberty, depicted as looking forward to another 250 years of American history. Hollis noted that the coins will carry the dual dates 1776-2026 on their obverse, symbolizing the transition from the nation’s founding to its 250th anniversary. He anticipated that these coins would be preserved by collectors and families, serving as a lasting reminder of the country’s journey. The redesigns aim to blend historical significance with modern commemoration, ensuring that the coins remain relevant and meaningful to the public.#declaration_of_independence #us_mint #paul_hollis #liberty_dime #mayflower_compact
U.S. Mint Produces 296.7M Coins Amid America 250 Rollout The U.S. Mint produced 296.74 million coins in February 2026 as part of the America 250 program, which commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary. This output marked a decline from January’s record high of 448.5 million coins, which included the first 1776-2026 Semiquincentennial coins. February’s production also fell significantly compared to the same period in 2025, when cent production alone totaled 353 million coins. The February output included nickels, Emerging Liberty dimes, the first two of five quarter designs, and Enduring Liberty half dollars. These coins are part of the America 250 initiative, which features designs celebrating key historical events. The production decline was attributed to the shift in focus from commercial cents to collector products, as the Mint stopped producing cents for circulation in July 2025. Comparisons of February 2026 production with the previous year showed a 48.9% drop from February 2025. The Mint’s data also highlighted adjustments in previous months, including a negative adjustment in May 2025 that inflated coin totals by up to 1.4 million coins. These corrections were applied to ensure accurate reporting. For commonly used coins, February saw a 48.8% decline in nickel production, 24.1% for dimes, and 22.9% for quarters. Half dollars and Native American dollars continued to be produced for collectors, with the Enduring Liberty half dollar replacing the long-running Kennedy design. By February, the combined production of half dollars reached 18.6 million, compared to 34 million in 2025. Native American dollars also saw a shift, with 980,000 coins produced in January and February 2026.#us_mint #america_250_program #denver_mint #philadelphia_mint #semiquincentennial_coins
Trump's 250th Anniversary Coins: 5 Changes to U.S. Currency President Trump is nearing the release of an official coin bearing his likeness, but his influence on U.S. currency extends beyond that single design. Over the past year, the Trump administration has implemented several changes to American coins, many tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. These adjustments have sparked debate, legal scrutiny, and questions about the boundaries of presidential authority over the U.S. Mint. The most visible change is the approval of a 24-carat gold commemorative coin celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Commission of Fine Arts, a group entirely composed of Trump appointees, endorsed the design, which features the president in the Oval Office. One side of the coin displays the year 1776, while the other shows 2026. This marks the first time a sitting president’s image appears on a coin during their term, a rarity in U.S. history. Only Calvin Coolidge had a coin minted during his presidency in 1926. Legal experts warn that the gold coin could face challenges. Federal law prohibits the use of living presidents’ portraits on circulating coins, though commemorative coins are an exception. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 and 31 U.S. Code § 5112 restrict the depiction of living individuals on coins, with limited exceptions for collectibles. The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 further limits $1 coins to honoring deceased presidents. Despite these rules, the Trump administration has pushed forward with its designs. Another controversial change involves the $1 coin. In October 2025, the U.S. Treasury released a draft design featuring Trump raising his fist in front of a U.S. flag. The front of the coin shows a traditional portrait of the president.#us_treasury #trump_administration #wall_street_journal #commission_of_fine_arts #us_mint
