Revisiting the 2016 Centennial Gold Coin set for 2026
HalfDime
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In 2016 the US Mint released the Centennial gold coin set that had three coins, a Mercury Dime Centennial Gold Coin that was the first of three 24-karat gold coins the Mint issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of three classic coin designs first issued in 1916. The coin features Adolph A. Weinman’s original “Winged Liberty” design. The release of the Standing Liberty Quarter celebrated Hermon A. MacNeil’s original “Standing Liberty” quarter design. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar celebrated Adolph A. Weinman’s original “Walking Liberty” half dollar design.
The 2016 Mercury Dime Centennial Gold Coin had a mintage limit of 125,000 coins and an initial household order limit of 10.
The United States Mint began accepting orders for the 2016 Standing Liberty Quarter Centennial Gold Coin on September 8. There was a household order limit of one for this product, while mintage was limited to 100,000 units.
The United States Mint began accepting orders for the 2016 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Centennial Gold Coin on November 17. The total number of Walking Liberty Half Dollar Centennial Gold Coins minted was limited to 70,000 units, with orders limited to three per household.
So where did sales end up for these three coins?
Mercury Dime: 124,885 coins
Standing Liberty Quarter: 91,752 coins
Walking Liberty Half Dollar: 64,441 coins
So the Mercury Dime hit the mintage limit minus returns, the quarter came up short by a small amount, and the half dollar by a little less. But all three sold very well at the time.
I had passed on this set based on the high mintages, and didn't even buy any to flip. Historically these numbers are very high, and would not make for great long-term appreciation other than the price of gold itself. But surprisingly these three coins do command prices over melt after almost nine years of maturity. This shows the power of the classic coin designs with modern coin buyers.
This leads to the 250th anniversary gold coins the mint will be releasing next year. So far they have announced this will include five gold coins (called Best of the Mint):
The five 2026 gold coins are:
A tenth-ounce gold coin using the designs from the 1916 Winged Liberty Head silver dime.
A quarter-ounce gold coin using the designs from 1916 Standing Liberty silver quarter dollar.
A half-ounce gold coin using the designs from the 1916 Walking Liberty silver half dollar.
A 1-ounce gold coin using the designs from the 1804 Draped Bust, Class I silver dollar.
A 1-ounce .9999 fine gold coin using the designs from the 1907 Saint-Gaudens, Roman Numerals (MCMVII), High Relief gold $20 double eagle.
Is this deja vu? It appears to be a reissue of the 2016 gold Centennial set, but includes two more coins. A Draped Bust one ounce gold, and a St. Gaudens 1 ounce gold as well.
Does the mint know this is mostly a reissue?????
They must, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Anyway, we have the same coins that were already released, so there is a track record. I expect high mintages again but lower sales perhaps. Now people may want to buy the 2026 coins and also buy back the 2016 coins to make two coin gold sets of the ones they like the most.
For those that only want unique, they may opt for the 1 ounce Draped Bust gold.
St. Gaudens buyers will prefer that one to the others.
Anyway I found this interesting and wanted to share it, so it looks like a reissue and two extra coins, all in gold. Sales will do well, but they may only do about half of the 2016 coins. I was wrong before though, so maybe I get this one wrong as well. Either way the coins will be beautiful, and if the 2016 coins are any indication, they will hold value above melt years later (I will predict this, final mintages will be below the 2016 coins for all five issues). The St. Gaudens is technically also a reissue, as it has already been released in 2009, and had a final mintage of 114,427. So four out of five are reissues.
PS If the mint really wanted to do a set of the most iconic designs, a set of five native head gold would have outsold these. They should have considered the coins already released when planning for this perhaps.
Comments
I agree with your assessment and wonder why they are doing the same designs. An Indian set would have been cool.
Odd. Different finishes perhaps? There are a number of early designs that might be more popular. Reminds me of Hollywood, rehashing movies, bad sequels. Lack of imagination.
I'd like to see something on the sequential like the 1926 one, just saying 😉
I passed on the 2016 issues and will pass on the 2026 issues. Easy decision. Now if they were to come up with a new classic style design, that might be different. No chance of that however. The medal for the new dime however, looks quite good.
I still wish they would do a $20 Liberty Head. We already have the obverses of the St. Gaudens and Walking Liberty that have been used for the past 40 (almost) years.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
Still have my Standing Liberty gold. Will have to see what the designs look like and the price before deciding. Those designs never seem to get "old" and may bring in more people to the hobby with proven designs.
I guess the HR Saint might be a little different if approx the size of a $20 double eagle, more or less; remember the '09 Bullion Saint replicated the small size and extra thickness of one of the Saint ultra HR patterns, if I am recalling correctly (don't own one, wish I did.) The 1804 dollar design in gold I predict will be pretty popular if done nicely -- I am anticipating a seemingly ridiculous premium price from the mint.
It would be nice if they would do 1907 $20 J-1776/1905
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A cool $10,000 is my cost estimate for this set. Things are getting much worse, and the Mint isn't helping.
I knew it would happen.
I recall the 2016 Mercury had a bump in price after selling out (going out of stock). Not long after, the prices started falling and in the years after you could buy them for under issue price. In 2017, I bought a 70 on eBay for less than issue price. The increase in gold and the post-2020 bump in the coin market has helped these regain a premium above issue price.
I like my @dcarr antiqued silver one ounce pieces, especially since gold is out of my reach.
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I have the dime and quarter in 70.
The half I couldn't justify spending what the market was bringing so I waited... Now I still wait as the selling cost has gone up another 30/40% for the matching label to make a 3 coin set.
I was appalled by the mintages but sprung for all three and got an extra "dime". I really loved the designs however, and along with the gold Kennedy half have really appreciated them. Favorite? Probably the walker. A redo? I wish they would not. I have no interest in another HR Saint but might spring for the draped bust dollar - won't fight for it if a blood bath is developing though.
Well, just Love coins, period.
I hope they make the dime with Full Bands this time.
1916 Mercury Dime Gold Coin displaying the Liberty Bell privy inscribed with '250' for the 2026 Semiquincentennial.
It's going to be raining privies next year!
Mint Link
This set is selling at spot.. I just wholesaled 2 full sets... offered them here at spot and had.no takers.
I went in for the 2016s. Some of my favorite recent issues. I would like these better without the privy marks.
They should revive the capped bust half and draped bust coinage. I would like to see a capped head left Half Eagle design.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
The mint is putting the original dates of issue on these?
The U.S. Mint has, at times, struck coins with dates from prior years, effectively "backdating" them. This practice has historical precedent:
The 1964-dated Kennedy half dollars were struck into 1965, and the Mint also struck 1964-D Peace dollars in 1965 (though these were later melted and not released).
The 1776-1976 Bicentennial coins were produced both before and after the actual Bicentennial year to meet demand, and all bore the dual date regardless of when they were struck.
In earlier American history, the Massachusetts Pine Tree shilling was struck for years after the 1652 date it bore, as a way to circumvent British restrictions.
It looks like most times it was done within a few years of issues, not over 100 years.
Wish I would have seen that. Missed that one. RGDS!
Okay, I'm officially tired of the privies. I am glad I bought the 2009 and 2016 gold versions without privies as gold prices next year will be completely out of reach, at least for me.
I know it'a the Liberty Bell, but it kind of looks like a t-shirt...
I did not buy the three from 2016, so probably not in 2026 when they reappear. Originality is dead. 1916 was an exceptional year artistry wise, so commemorating that in 2016 was a fine idea, but in 2026? Speaking of dead, I do collect the Winged Liberty Head dime and Walking Liberty half-dollar, from the day they were original, and remain beautiful, the best work from the artisans at the mint.
I would prefer they mint 2026 dated silver Winged Liberty dimes (or any of the other planned coins) and include them free (or at an added cost) with the silver proof set (or limited edion silver proof set) along the lines of the 2019 and 2020 W cents and nickels. I still miss having the 2020 W uncirculated Jefferson nickel.
Of course you would. But they are taking the opportunity to milk the occasion for all it's worth. Which doesn't mean including them as an add-on to an existing product.
Cents and nickels cost nothing to make, and were a nice little incentive to buy annual sets that were made to order in unlimited quantities. That's not this.
This is going to be 10 items, 5 gold and 5 silver, sold at massive premiums to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday. Apples and gold. Not the same thing. At all.
What you are looking for is the special redesigns on circulating coinage to mark the occasion. That's what you'll be getting in 2026 proof and uncirculated sets.
I got the quarter and half. I prefer they have the present date when minted.
I wished they would revive the $20 Liberty.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
No, I'm looking for exactly what I said. I didn't say there was any expectation it would happen. I'm quite aware of the plans for the redesign sets. They could still do the redesign of circulatimg coinage and include something with them, tie the history in. Again no expectation that it would happen, but would put something more affordable and more in
line with what was actually produced in the past out there and they could still milk it for profit.
If they're going to reissue the 1916 dime, I think they should mint them in Denver.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
I did buy them in 2016, but with spot gold nearly tripled since then I think the 2026 set will be pricey. I’m sure they will look great - game day decision.
I have the three 2016 ones, which I bought as a combination gold-speculation and I love those three sets.
I'm a bit disappointed that the Mint would go to the same well again for those three coins, diluting the value of the orignals a bit. I find the two new ones to be attractive, but I very much doubt I'll be willing to spring for the price they will command.
.
Something is missing ...
Ah yes, the mustard:
In 2016 PCGS came out with a special three coin holder and not many were made (I think 65). I always wondered how they could use the fdoi designation when the three coins were minted on different dates. 🤔
If PCGS does a similar five coin holder in 2026 I might just bite the bullet and get one.
I might get the 2026 coins , but it depends how much the mint wants for them. With the way they mark up their gold we could be looking at $4,000+ for the 1 oz. coins.
Sales will be way less with the crazy mint markup prices.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
If gold/silver remain this high or go higher 2026 will be interesting as there will be additional competition from other notable releases as the AGE/ASE with be a 40 year anniversary (1986) and the gold buffalo will be a 20 year anniversary (2006).
I'm not into the new issues from the mint. I prefer to buy classic coins from other places than buy at sky high prices for gold and silver.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
If I was the mint, I would scrap the fractionals for 2026, and just make moar 1oz coins... A gold Gobrecht Dollar, A Gold Trade Dollar, A Gold IKE,
I might strive for the St. Gaudens high relief, we'll see
Good luck everyone!
It's all about what the people want...
I love retro US Mint releases. Love my 2009 High Relief Double Eagle
However, I do not like privy marks or lasered marks, or laser etched away, fine details removed current proof die production.
Ordered up three 2016 10c & kept them, no flaws
Then bought three 25c & returned one, due to flaw
Finally completed this series with another 3 piece order & returned two due to flaws, which then became my final order for quite some time. I did not place a US Mint for 7 years as persistent flaws & also 5oz silver markups annoyed me.
Since 2023: no flaws.
How cool is that ???