The U.S. Mint began circulating new coins to ring in the 250th anniversary of the United States on Monday.
There will be four new designs of the quarter in circulation, along with one new design for the nickel and dime, each. While it is common for coins to alter their design year to year, dimes have been unchanged in their design for 80 years.
Dimes have historically included the profile of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt since 1946, as Roosevelt died the year before. This historical design also included a torch, an olive branch, and an oak branch. Now, dimes will feature the profile of Lady Liberty, who was depicted on the dime prior to 1946. The reverse side now includes an eagle with its wings spread and arrows in its talons to represent the American Revolution.
Meanwhile, the nickel will remain largely the same, with a renewed portrait of President Thomas Jefferson and a slightly different depiction of his Monticello home. The word “liberty” will be included next to Jefferson’s portrait in Jefferson’s handwriting. Like all coin designs, the year range “1776 ~ 2026” is inscribed.
Quarters circulated in 2026 will hark back to the Mayflower Compact, President George Washington, and the Revolutionary War; the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson; U.S. Constitution and President James Madison; and President Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. These quarters notably leave off President Donald Trump, who was suggested as part of the design last year.
The half dollar will replace President John F. Kennedy with the Statue of Liberty. On the reverse side, Liberty’s torch is depicted being passed from one hand to another, with the phrase “knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty” inscribed.
THE PENNY IS GOING AWAY IN EARLY 2026: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR ONE-CENT COINS
A commemorative penny will be up for sale this year. These pennies will include the inscription “1776 ~ 2026.” This comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited the Philadelphia Mint last month to commemorate the final production of the penny in the country. Treasurer Brandon Beach joined Bessent nine months after Trump called to halt production of the $0.01 coin.
Bessent had the final approval of these designs, which were submitted by metal artists nationwide.
