The U.S. Mint unveiled designs for coins commemorating America's 250th anniversary, focusing on founding-era documents and Revolutionary War imagery. Circulating 2026 releases will include a nickel, a dime and five distinct quarters; the penny and half dollar will be produced as collectible issues. A draft $1 coin featuring Donald Trump was reported but has not been officially released, and its fate remains uncertain. Earlier Biden-era proposals highlighting suffrage and civil-rights figures were set aside.
U.S. Mint Reveals 250th Anniversary Coin Designs — Trump Not Included So Far
U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The U.S. Mint has released designs for coins that will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The new images emphasize founding-era documents and Revolutionary War themes; a proposed dollar coin featuring former President Donald Trump has not been officially released.
What the Mint Announced
The special designs will appear only on coins struck in 2026. Circulating releases will include a nickel, a dime and five distinct quarters. The penny and the half dollar will be produced only as collectible, noncirculating issues. Coins minted in 2026 will carry both the mint year and the date 1776 to commemorate the Declaration of Independence.
Where The Trump Coin Stands
No official design for a $1 coin has been released. In October, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed that a draft design featuring Mr. Trump had been prepared; reports described the draft as showing Trump’s profile on the obverse and a reverse image with the words 'FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.' Neither the U.S. Mint nor the Treasury Department has confirmed whether a Trump design will be finalized or produced.
By longstanding policy and practice, living or recently deceased presidents are generally not depicted on U.S. coins until some time has passed after their death. Supporters of a Trump coin have argued a special-authority exception for the nation’s 250th birthday might allow a presidential likeness, but no formal determination has been announced.
Design Highlights
The five quarters will depict the Mayflower Compact, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. The dime features an allegorical Liberty — a symbolic woman confronting the monarchy’s tyranny — alongside an eagle holding arrows to signify the fight for independence. The commemorative nickel closely resembles the 2006 redesign but includes dual dates (1776 and 2026) on the obverse.
Collectible Half Dollar And Penny
The commemorative half dollar shows the face of the Statue of Liberty on one side and Liberty passing her torch to what appears to be a child’s hand on the reverse, symbolizing a handoff to the next generation. The penny will be essentially the same as the prior circulating design but will be produced only as a collectible in 2026 and bear both dates.
Previously Proposed Designs That Were Shelved
Congress authorized commemorative coin programs in 2021. During the Biden administration, the Mint worked with a citizens advisory committee that proposed designs highlighting the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, abolition, suffrage and civil rights. Those proposals included images of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges, who was escorted to school by the National Guard as a 6-year-old amid opposition to desegregation.
'The American story didn’t stop at the pilgrims and founding fathers, and ignoring anything that has happened in this country in the last 162 years is just another attempt by President Trump to rewrite our history,' said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, referencing the Constitution’s preamble.
Collectible Pricing Examples And Mintage Notes
The Mint has not announced prices or final mintage limits for the 2026 commemorative penny and half dollar. For context, the Mint currently lists a commemorative half dollar honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps at $61 (up to 750,000 may be minted) and a $5 gold commemorative coin at $1,262 (maximum 50,000 pieces). Actual pricing for the 2026 anniversary collectibles will be released by the Mint when available.
Overall, the 2026 anniversary program shifts toward classical, founding-era imagery and away from the Biden-era proposals that emphasized later civil-rights milestones. The Mint expects the special designs to be limited to the anniversary year, with current designs returning to circulation in 2027.
