As part of the celebration of the semiquincentennial founding of America, in 2026, the United States Mint will issue redesigned circulating coins and offer "Best of the Mint" gold coins and silver medals.
The U.S. Mint recently revealed candidate designs for the 2026 cent and nickel. Additionally, this week, it introduced five candidates for their Best of Mint collection, featuring classic U.S. coin designs endorsed by numismatic experts and selected based on public input. This input was gathered through a survey, with the Mint reporting over 29,000 participants.
The five candidates include:
- 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar
- 1916 Mercury Dime
- 1804 Silver Dollar (Class I Version)
- 1907 Saint-Gaudens High-Relief Double Eagle
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the five candidates were given a strong support by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).
Best of Mint 2026 Semiquincentennial Gold Coins
During the CCAC meeting, Mint officials indicated their plan to offer 1-year-only Best of Mint 2026 Gold Coins, which will:
- Be composed of 24k gold.
- Faithfully represent the original historic designs.
- Feature their original dates of issue.
- Come in fractional formats that approximate the size of the original coins (1oz., 1/2oz., 1/4oz., and 1/10oz.).
- Have an uncirculated finish.
- Feature a semiquincentennial privy mark showcasing the Liberty Bell and the numerals "250."
Companion Best of Mint 2026 Semiquincentennial Silver Medals
The U.S. Mint also plans to offer companion silver medals to the five gold coins. These medals would showcase contemporary designs "inspired by each of the historic coins" and would also incorporate a semiquincentennial privy mark depicting the Liberty Bell and "250."
Development of the designs for the silver medals would commence after receiving approval from the Treasury Secretary for the designs of the gold coins.
