U.S. Mint Wants Your Opinion

From now through Oct. 10, the U.S. Mint is surveying the public as to what themes would be most preferred for the one-year 2026 circulating coinage honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The legal authorization for striking these coins was part of the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020.

If you go to www.usmint.gov, the top of the home page has a button to click to take the survey for “We Want To Hear From You: Give Your Opinions On 2026 Circulating Coin Design Themes.” There, you can respond to a series of questions with the option of five different answers: Not interested at all, Slightly interested, Neutral, Very interested, or Extremely interested. At the very end of the survey, respondents are allowed to describe their responses in more depth or to suggest other themes for these coins.

Among the questions asked are whether specific people deserve to appear on these coins. And, if so, should they be the Founding Fathers or should they be people who made significant changes to American society. Another question asks if the 2026 coins should portray early U.S. coin designs. Other questions ask about the importance of honoring the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, or the Constitutional amendment expanding voting privileges to women.

It is my opinion, which I have expressed to U.S. Mint officials multiple times, that public participation in creating themes and designs for America’s coinage would promote more interest in the hobby of numismatics. Despite the time, labor, and other costs of seeking public input, I also think that the increase in the number of collectors would almost certainly expand the Mint’s profits as its own sales of numismatic coins would grow.

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I’m not sure this survey is receiving much coverage by the regular media. If it were, it just might turn out that the general public would provide different responses than would the people who go to the Mint’s website or are on the Mint’s email list. But, if you have an interest in what should be the design themes on the circulating American cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar coins of 2026, here is your opportunity to share your opinion.

Answer to the Previous Trivia Question

Last week, I asked: Which U.S. Mint director received a degree from Michigan State University and in which field? The answer is Jay Johnson, the 36th Mint director from May 2000 to August 2001. In 1970, he received his master’s degree in radio and television arts from Michigan State University.

This Week’s Trivia Question

The American Numismatic Association’s longtime lamp of knowledge logo is similar to what central device on the seal of which major university? Look for the answer next week.

Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, 2017 Exemplary Service Award, 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild (including in 2021 for Best Investment Newsletter), the Professional Numismatists Guild, the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Mich., and writes Liberty’s Outlook, a monthly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. Past newsletter issues can be viewed at www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries titled “Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So, And Important News You Need To Know” can be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at WILS 1320).