Has the US Mint blown the 2026 Semiquincentennial Coins?
HalfDime
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Many of us were looking forward to the 2026 coin releases, as we fondly remember 1976 and the issues that came out at the time. However, so far in 2026 there have been few so far and it is June already. The Best of the Mint are backdated coins sold with an expensive medal, we have high priced silver and uncirculated sets. Many of the products have been pushed back past July 4th as well.
Was any planning happening for this? Why are so few products being released?
Yes the circulating coins have been struck, yet no one can find any. They have sold rolls off of the website, but were are they all? Millions so far struck, and none to be found.
They have done a few expensive coins, the gold buffalo and eagle which are dual dated. The UNC gold eagle in particular looks great with the dual date, why wasn't this done to the Best of the Mint series? Why weren't the bullion programs dual dated as well?
There is even a massive gold coin I can't mention by name that might be released, but looks like a late December one at best if it happens. Well after anyone thinks of 2026 anymore.
Ideally the US Mint should have started early with this and been striking coins in mid 2025 for 2026, including medals. They had unlimited potential but ended up with little to show for it by July 4th. Maybe I am wrong, but others can say where.
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I agree that 2026 doesn't look that great now that we are about half-way through. Some decent coins mixed in with rolls and bags upon bags of back-ordered product. The way the schedule looks now, after summer is over, the Mint will spend the Fall catching up on all the back-orders with relatively little going on (save the Super Hero coinage and a Proof set) All of this under a backdrop of sagging precious metals prices, while asking us to pay an ever-greater amount over spot than we did in January.
Chaos reigns.
Short answer - YES!
Im not gonna feed the the machine, jmo of it. Will still celebrate rhe 250....
Take your politics somewhere else!
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✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
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Big miss by the mint.
Should have looked at what was done 50 years ago and try and copy some of those things.
Was a chance for the mint to have a huge year with nice releases and proper pricing but certainly has not happened.
"Has the US Mint blown the 2026 Semiquincentennial Coins?"
No, not at all.
I'm not sure why some people think the Bicentennial was any better coin-wise, unless they wanted fewer coins.
In 1975/76 there were three coins that were redesigned and included in the regular sets, plus 40% silver three-coin uncirculated and proof sets. We certainly have far more than that this year.
One thing I would have liked to see to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Buffalo gold would have been to do a nice fractional anniversary set. But I'm selfish like that..........
They sold those fractional ones previously and they sold well so you are correct that would have been a nice thing to toss out there.
I think the point was it is June of the year and you don't see the special coins in circulation, this all by itself is a fail.
It was a bigger deal. But that's more about 1972 than 1976. They started selling Bicentennial themed stamps and medals in 1972 and kept going through 1976. There just hasn't been as much hype this time. Why? I don't know. But I think it has zero to do with politics.
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This has little to do with the SemiQ and everything to do with the decreasing use of cash. Someone posted last week that they just got their first 2025 cent. Only took 17 months.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Release half dollar in July, quarter in August, dollar in fall, proof and mint sets on normal schedule, replace blue Ike with 3-coin set. That's it.
Kept it simple, they did.
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While you raise a great point here, we have a whole new world now compared to 1976 when I was a kid. People use less cash, of course, but with the advent of the internet, social media, Ebay and all other avenues of online sales, hoarding and turning a profit have deeply cut into what you would have found "out in the wild" had all things been equal with 1976 vs 2026.
The Mint did very little in 1975/1976. They are actually doing more this year. It was THE REST of the country that was doing more in 1976. EVERY retail product had a Bicentennial redesign/ad campaign. The post office started releasing Bicentennial designs in 72/73. [Of course, people don't use stamps in 2026 either. ]
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
You couldn't get away from it if you tried! Gas stations gave away glasses and other items with a fill-up that year. In school we had all kinds of celebratory lessons and even a play that I had to act in. I wasn't given a choice. LOL!
Exactly. I know this is a coin forum. But the Mint is just reflecting the general lack of interest. The government really needed to start 3 or 4 years ago if they wanted to gin up the kind of national obsession we had in '76.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
You got it! As it relates to coins, they could have done more, but do have a bigger selection than they did in 1976. For anyone curious what the landscape looked like for the 200th, here's a Google AI overview:
In 1976, the U.S. Mint sold its Bicentennial coins through direct mail order, over-the-counter sales at select Mint locations, and via commercial banks. Offerings included traditional uncirculated sets, proof sets, and special 40% silver-clad versions of the Washington quarter, Kennedy half dollar, and Eisenhower dollar.The United States Mint sold these releases through several structured methods and collector options:Mail Order and Mint Outlets: Buyers could mail applications directly to the Bureau of the Mint or purchase them over-the-counter at Mint facilities in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.Commercial Banks: To ensure the 40% silver Bicentennial coin sets were easily accessible, the Mint also partnered with financial institutions around the world to sell them directly to the public.Proof Sets ($12.00 / $7.00): The wildly popular Bicentennial Silver Proof Set (3 coins struck in 40% silver) was offered for $12.00. The standard 6-coin copper-nickel clad set—which featured proof-only strikes of most denominations—cost $7.00.Uncirculated Sets ($9.00 / $6.00): These were available in the same silver-clad version ($9.00) or as a standard 12-coin Uncirculated Mint Set featuring regular copper-nickel clad coins struck in Philadelphia and Denver ($6.00).Limits: To manage high demand for these historic dual-dated (1776-1976) pieces, orders for standard proof and uncirculated sets were initially limited to five per customer.
The mint has done a lousy job with the Semi Quincentennial coins. Remember when the mint made a big deal out of starting the great West Point Mint quarter hunt? This time the mint could care less about the regular issue coins. The mint has mostly spent its efforts selling coins for a profit. The Semi Quincentennial coins mean nothing to the general public because the mint has not done its job. Because July 4th is less than a month away, there not enough time for catch-up.
I just hope they get a silver Proof set to me in time so I can include in my Summer FUN exhibit. They have billed my credit card for it.
I see @Tramp gave an account of current reality, that is, facts, but I missed any political content here. Seems like a pretty straightforward description to me, and labelling it political doesn’t dismiss the underlying reality. I think dismissing @Tramp’s statement out of hand is a disservice to us as discerning adults.
Tramps' statement was as follows: "Take your politics somewhere else!"
Maybe you could be a discerning adult, and take his advice.
Oops, I see now that I should have attributed the comment to @KRC, not @Tramp. I got messed up by the comment indentation.
Still, I see that @KRC did describe some factual context of why 1976 may differ from 2026. Since he relates factual information, political interpretation is in the mind of the reader, not in @KRC’s comment. I suggest that each reader reanalyze whether the statements are in fact true, and happen to discuss the political environment that gives context to the original discussion. If they are true, then they are just descriptive of reality, and not expressing political opinions. I am humbly suggesting that readers not be so hasty to jump on the “it’s political” bandwagon.
If it is factually correct, then opinions may be held about the event, but that only makes the statement controversial in the reader’s mind, not in reality. Not any more than “a ship sank and had gold coins in it” should be considered political than a simple fact.
Given the country's history challenged population, it wouldn't surprise if a noticeable minority doesn't even know the significance of the anniversary, don't know the number.
I know this sounds impossible, but there you have it.
My opinion too.
This and that many people don't use coinage anymore. I don't remember the last time I paid with coins and never carry any. I did receive change for the first time in many years recently (last year I think) but don't remember the reason why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted coins back as change because I don't since it's not worth enough to buy anything.
I still use paper semi-regularly and usually carry several hundred with me all the time.
Politics? Your comment is a political statement. Ever hear of a subject called history? If you took offense just move on to another thread. As a Vietnam vet I recounted history as I experienced it related to the Bicentennial coins. The Secretary very much determined the themes and content of coins in 2026, look it up yourself.
I believe it was the comments about Presidents that was at issue. If you don't see that as political, then you aren't that discerning.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Your interpretation & judgment, based on KRC's factually incorrect, politically infused, doom & gloom opinion is amusing.
Nice try with the spin.
I don't need your supervision of my discernment. Thanks for trying to enlighten me.
I live 30 miles from a Federal Reserve Bank located in a major city.
I still use cash for small transactions ($1 to $25) in local restaurants and grocery stores and gas stations.
I haven't seen a single Semiquincentennial coin in circulation.
The circulating coins aren't circulating!
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
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@KRC @Ronsanderson
Boom...we win.
they could have done 1 thing better. the presidential dollars were easy to obtain in fresh boxes. the only part that the feds are failing on. we should be able to order boxes of fresh coins
Those would be very nice collectibles for a Civil Rights Movement commemorative.
I finally received my first quincentennial quarter in change yesterday. It took until June but was the Revolutionary War Quarter. What happened to the other quarters?
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Here is how many coins have been struck for 2026 and barely any have seen the light of day.
It is over 1.2 billion in all. Nearly all missing in action.
they have been selling well off the mint web site, if you don't mind paying premium for rolls
i don't know the timing of the obw releases but #3 Declaration of Independence is coming soon on the website
I'm in southern Maine , I have yet to see these coins in the wild .
None here in Pa yet.
Me neither. Then again, i have yet to get any change all year so...
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Yeah , I use cash now and then , However I have a friend that works at a convenience store and asked him to keep an eye out for them. Nuffin
Numbers are large, but still a low or very low proportion relative to the total number for each denomination in circulation, especially when most or at least a high proportion are almost certainly being hoarded soon after release.
A stack of 1.2 billion coins would reach between 1.2 and 1.7 miles high, yet none to be found.
Yep. To go along with your previous statements, coins/change were a part of every day life. Now they are not. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.
Yeah , this was a conversation about a cashless society on this forum two decades ago....
Yeah, well, with all due respect, that was a failed experiment. Cost a TON to process those orders and ship those coins at face value, with the intent to get them to circulate.
Instead, the sharpies just used to program to generate credit card miles, depositing the coins directly in the bank upon receipt. Few if any actually circulated. In typical government fashion, a massive waste of money -- order processing, shipping and credit card fees.
As a result, if you want circulating coins directly from the Mint today, you pay massive premiums for them, and can complain about that. But, as an individual, you will never again benefit from the boondoggle that was the short lived circulating Presidential Dollar program.
So no, you should not be able to order boxes of fresh coins. Costs way too much for them to process and ship. Very inefficient, and you would not want to pay what it would cost to cover their costs.
If you do, lots of half dollars just waiting for your order. I very seriously doubt you'd have any interest in buying anything at similar premiums to face value if it was offered in unlimited quantities directly from the Mint.