The United States Mint has unveiled the 2026 American Innovation $1 Coin designs, recognizing key contributions from Iowa, Wisconsin, California, and Minnesota.
Each coin highlights an innovation or innovator from its state: Dr. Norman Borlaug holding a sheaf of wheat and wheat stalks (Iowa), a stylized aerial view of the Cray-1 supercomputer (Wisconsin), Steve Jobs seated before a landscape of oak-covered rolling hills (California), and a 1940s-era truck with an early front-mounted refrigeration unit (Minnesota).
They are part of the U.S. Mint’s American Innovation® $1 Coin Program, a multi-year series introduced in 2018 that celebrates American ingenuity through reverse designs honoring achievements from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories.
To develop the designs, the Mint works with each state’s governor and subject experts to identify themes of local innovation. Final selections were made by the Secretary of the Treasury after reviews by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). The original candidate designs can be viewed for Iowa, Wisconsin, California, and Minnesota.
Since 2011, dollar coins have not been released into circulation. The U.S. Mint now produces them solely for numismatic products. Subscriptions for several 2026 issues are already open, allowing collectors to automatically receive them upon release. Rolls and bags with the Iowa dollar are expected to go on sale in early January. Additional offerings — including rolls and bags for the remaining designs, as well as proof and reverse proof sets containing all four coins — will follow later in the year.
U.S. Mint-published images and descriptions for the years’s four $1 coins follow.
2026 Iowa Innovation Dollar Image
Designer: Don Everhart, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Eric David Custer, Mint Medallic Artist
This design depicts Dr. Norman Borlaug holding a sheaf of wheat and wheat stalks, highlighting his pioneering work developing resilient crops capable of feeding a growing global population. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "IOWA." Additional inscriptions are "NORMAN BORLAUG" and "FATHER OF THE GREEN REVOLUTION."
2026 Wisconsin Innovation Dollar Image
Designer: Paul Romano, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: John P. McGraw, Mint Medallic Artist
This design exhibits a stylized aerial view of the Cray-1 supercomputer. The image emphasizes the Cray-1 not only through its shape, but also by suggesting the shape of a "C" for Cray-1 and "computer." Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "WISCONSIN." The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
2026 California Innovation Dollar Image
Designer: Elana Hagler, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, Mint Medallic Artist
This design presents a young Steve Jobs sitting in front of a quintessentially northern California landscape of oak-covered rolling hills. His posture and expression, as he is captured in a moment of reflection, show how this environment inspired his vision to transform complex technology into something as intuitive and organic as nature itself. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "CALIFORNIA." Additional inscriptions are "STEVE JOBS" and "MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL."
2026 Minnesota Innovation Dollar Image
Designer: Beth Zaiken, Artistic Infusion Program Designer
Sculptor: Joseph V. Noorigian, Mint Medallic Artist
This design features a 1940s-era truck with an early front-mounted refrigeration unit. The icons adorning the side of the truck identify the diverse temperature-sensitive goods whose widespread transportation was made possible by this innovation. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "MINNESOTA." The additional inscription is "MOBILE REFRIGERATION."
Shared Obverse Design Featuring Annual Privy Mark and 250th Addition
Designed by Justin Kunz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, the obverse of each $1 coin in the series features a common design: a profile of the Statue of Liberty with the inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "$1."
Since 2019, the obverse has also featured a stylized gear privy mark symbolizing industry and innovation. The gear’s design changes slightly each year, giving every coin a distinct touch. In 2026, the privy mark will also incorporate a Liberty Bell with the inscription "250," commemorating the Semiquincentennial of the Nation’s founding.
Edge Inscriptions
All $1 coins in the series bear incused edge inscriptions showing the year of minting, the mint mark of the production facility, and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
