2026 Semiquincentennial Coins: Which Ones Sell Above Face Value
The US Mint's 250th-anniversary coins are dual-dated 1776~2026 and struck for one year only. Most of what you find in change is worth face value. The premiums people talk about are for unopened uncirculated rolls, top-grade certified examples, and separate collector products. Here is what is actually selling above face, with a source and date on every figure.
What was released
The Semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Program was authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 and the designs were unveiled by the US Mint in December 2025. For 2026 only, new one-year designs appear on the coins below, each carrying the dual date 1776~2026.
| Coin | Face | 2026 design |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 5c | Semiquincentennial reverse, dual date 1776~2026 |
| Dime | 10c | Emerging Liberty, the first dime redesign in about 80 years |
| Quarter | 25c | Five reverses released through 2026: Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, Gettysburg Address |
| Half dollar | 50c | Enduring Liberty |
| Penny | 1c | Collectible one-year design |
What is actually selling above face
These are observed marketplace ranges, each with the source and month it was recorded. They are a starting point for research, not an appraisal - see our methodology. The market for these coins is still young, so figures move.
| What sells | Observed range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single coin from pocket changeCirculated examples stay at face | Face value | Busby Antiques, May 2026 |
| Uncirculated P and D roll setUnopened bank-wrapped rolls | $15 to $35 | Busby Antiques, May 2026 |
| Sealed bulk box of nickels ($100 face)A box is 2,000 nickels in 50 rolls of 40; sold unopened | Reported ~$900 on eBay (about 9x face) | Resell Calendar, March 2026 |
| Bulk lots to resellers50% premium quoted to bulk buyers | About 150% of face | Resell Calendar, March 2026 |
| Silver proof dime (collector issue)Separate silver proof product, not from change | $35 to $45 | Busby Antiques, May 2026 |
| Silver proof quarter (raw to certified)Higher end is graded and certified | $26 to $100 | Busby Antiques, May 2026 |
| Graded MS67 or higher (PCGS or NGC)Top-grade certified circulation strikes | Premiums jump sharply | Busby Antiques, May 2026 |
Why there is a premium at all
The circulating 2026 nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar are copper-nickel clad. There is no silver or gold content, so unlike a pre-1965 quarter there is no melt-value floor. Every dollar above face is collector demand, and it concentrates in two places:
- Untouched condition. Sealed rolls and boxes that never hit a register command the premium. Break the roll open and you are back to face for the individual coins.
- Certified top grades. A 2026 coin graded MS67 or higher by PCGS or NGC is scarce in that condition, which is where prices jump. Most coins do not grade that high.
Bulk demand is real right now - a sealed $100 box of nickels reportedly sold near $900 - but that is a bet on early scarcity, not on the metal. If you are holding circulated coins from change, they are worth face.
How to tell if yours is worth keeping
- Is it uncirculated? No wear, full luster, ideally still in an unopened bank roll. Circulated equals face.
- Could it grade high? Sharp strike, no marks. Only worth grading if you think it is MS67 or better and you have several.
- Is it a proof or silver product? Those are bought separately from the US Mint and are not something you pull from change.
To see how grade changes an estimate for any US coin, use the free coin value checker, and browse the most valuable quarters hub for context on what actually drives quarter values. If you are sorting older change too, the silver coin calculator covers pre-1965 silver - though note it does not apply to these clad 2026 issues.
Common questions
- Are 2026 quarters and nickels worth more than face value?
- A coin pulled from change is worth face value. The premiums people report are for unopened, uncirculated rolls and boxes, for high-grade certified examples (MS67 and up), and for the separate silver proof and gold collector products. A sealed $100 box of 2026 nickels was reported to sell for about $900 on eBay, but a single nickel from your change is still five cents.
- Should I spend my 2026 coins or keep them?
- If a coin is already circulated, there is little downside to spending it. If you have unopened bank rolls in pristine condition, keeping them sealed preserves the only thing that carries a premium here: uncirculated condition. Do not break rolls open if you are trying to resell.
- Do the 2026 coins contain silver?
- The circulating nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar are copper-nickel clad, not silver. There is no melt value to fall back on, so their resale premium is driven entirely by collector demand and condition. The US Mint also sells separate silver proof versions, which are a different product.
- How do I check what a specific 2026 coin is worth?
- Grade and variety drive value. Use the Mint Almanac value checker to see how grade changes an estimate, and compare against recent sold listings before you buy or sell. Anything you think is high grade should be confirmed with recent sold prices or a grading service.
Sources and disclosure
Release facts: US Mint Semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Program (designs unveiled December 2025). Resale observations: Resell Calendar (March 2026) and Busby Antiques (May 2026), as cited per row above. Mint Almanac is an independent project, not affiliated with the US Mint, PCGS, or NGC, and nothing here is financial advice. Ranges are marketplace observations that change over time; confirm against recent sold listings before you buy or sell. See our methodology for how we source figures.