The United States Mint begins sales of rolls and bags of the 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollar, reportedly available on May 26, marking the return of Lady Liberty to circulating U.S. coinage for the first time since 1947.
Guess who’s back? 👀🇺🇸
For the first time since 1947, Lady Liberty is featured on a circulating coin. Learn more about the 2026 Semiquincentennial designs in the May edition of Coins Online.
🔗 https://t.co/OEQXBhMIHQ pic.twitter.com/SmI8j3ojzc
— United States Mint (@usmint) May 20, 2026
The coin, part of the Semiquincentennial program honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, features a close-up of the Statue of Liberty on the obverse with inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776 ~ 2026.” The reverse shows Liberty passing her torch to a new generation, with “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “HALF DOLLAR,” and the quote “KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY.”
The half dollar joins other redesigned circulating coins for 2026 under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. The Mint unveiled designs in December 2025 to celebrate America’s founding milestone.
Liberty’s Long History on Half Dollars
The U.S. Mint first struck half dollars in 1794. For more than 150 years, designs prominently featured figures representing Liberty. Early examples included the Flowing Hair (1794-1795), Draped Bust (1796-1807), Capped Bust (1807-1839), Seated Liberty (1839-1891), and Barber (1892-1915) half dollars.
The Walking Liberty half dollar, designed by Adolph A. Weinman, entered circulation in 1916 and ran through 1947. It depicted Liberty striding toward the sunrise, symbolizing progress, with an eagle on the reverse. Production covered World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The series ended as the Mint shifted to the Franklin half dollar in 1948, followed by the Kennedy half dollar in 1964 after the President’s assassination. Kennedy’s portrait has remained on the obverse since.
The 2026 Enduring Liberty design revives the Liberty theme for one year only as part of the 250th anniversary observances.
Other Popular U.S. Mint Coins
The American Eagle gold and silver coins rank among the Mint’s most popular bullion products. The American Buffalo, launched in 2006, offers the first 24-karat gold proof coin struck by the U.S. Mint, featuring designs based on the 1913 Buffalo nickel.
Annual releases include Proof sets, Uncirculated sets, and commemoratives. For 2026, the lineup features Semiquincentennial enhancements across denominations, including quarters honoring events such as the signing of the Mayflower Compact and the Revolutionary War.
How to Obtain the Coins
The Enduring Liberty half dollars enter circulation through the Federal Reserve system for everyday use in change. Collectors can purchase rolls and bags directly from the U.S. Mint website starting May 26, 2026.
Other 2026 products, such as the Silver Proof Set (available June 11) and Uncirculated Coin Set (June 30), offer premium versions. Bullion coins like American Eagles and Buffaloes sell through authorized purchasers.
Some 2026 Semiquincentennial coins, including the Emerging Liberty dime, Mayflower Compact quarters, and Enduring Liberty half dollars, have already entered general circulation after the U.S. Mint began shipping them to Federal Reserve Banks on January 5, 2026, per Coin World.
All redesigned circulating denominations carry the dual date “1776 ~ 2026” to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The U.S. Mint, established in 1792, produces circulating coins for commerce and numismatic products for collectors at facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point.
