Dual-dated Lincoln cents and Jefferson nickels have been recommended as a part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, with circulating coins set to undergo redesign solely for that year.
Seven U.S. Mint proposed designs — four for the cent and three for the nickel — were reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Feb. 27 and by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Feb. 15.
Both committees preferred the date range options of 1776 and 2026, separated by a tilde (~), over combinations of date(s) and privy mark. The proposed privy mark showcases “250” within an illustration of the Liberty Bell.
Of note, while other circulating coins will see redesigns in 2026 for both their obverses and reverses, the 1-cent and 5-cent coins will not, according to the U.S. Mint, “for various production reasons.”
Some members of the CCAC showed support for the addition of the privy mark, especially for the cent, while most considered the nickel’s design too busy with its inclusion. As for the CFA, their recommendation letter for the designs noted, in part:
"For both coins, the Commission members recommended Option 1, which would augment the minting year to provide the commemorative date range of 1776–2026. They commented that the simplicity of this modification would be appropriate for these small coins, while the other alternatives containing a Liberty Bell privy mark and the number ‘250’ would add excessive and illegible complexity. Acknowledging the intent to develop distinct designs for the two coins, they said this differentiation is already sufficiently achieved by the treatment of the word ‘Liberty’ — typeset on the one-cent coin, and in Thomas Jefferson’s cursive script on the five-cent coin."
In line with earlier discussions, for those who appreciate the privy mark, it is expected to appear on each of the “Best of the Mint” 2026 Semiquincentennial Gold Coins and Silver Medals.
