The United States Mint is marking the nation’s 250th birthday in a big way, and collectors across the country have one date circled on their calendars: June 30, 2026. That is when the America 250 uncirculated coin release officially goes on sale, offering numismatists and everyday Americans a rare opportunity to own a complete set of coins tied directly to one of the most significant anniversaries in the country’s history. With designs that will only exist for a single year and a lineup that includes a collectible penny no longer made for circulation, this release stands apart from any standard annual mint set.
What Is the America 250 Uncirculated Coin Set?
The 2026 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set is the official collector product built around America’s Semiquincentennial celebration, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The set goes on sale on June 30, 2026, at 12 noon Eastern Time through the U.S. Mint’s website. The item number is 26RJ, and the issue price is $124.50. The Mint has capped the product at 300,000 sets, with a household order limit of 10 per buyer. That limit is typically lifted 24 hours after the sale opens.
The set contains 20 coins in total, packaged across two cards. One card holds 10 coins from the Philadelphia Mint, and the other holds 10 from the Denver Mint. A certificate of authenticity is included with each card, along with coin specifications printed on the reverse. Together, the two cards provide a comprehensive Philadelphia and Denver snapshot of every coin denomination produced for circulation in 2026.
What Coins Are Included in the Set?
The 2026 Uncirculated Coin Set captures the full scope of the Semiquincentennial coinage program, making it far more than a routine annual release. For one year only, the Mint has changed major coin designs to connect everyday pocket change to American history.
The five Semiquincentennial quarters are among the most talked-about inclusions. Each quarter honors a distinct chapter in the nation’s story. The Mayflower Compact quarter recognizes the 1620 agreement signed aboard the Mayflower as an early precursor to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Revolutionary War quarter honors the sacrifice made in pursuit of liberty. The Declaration of Independence quarter features the Liberty Bell as a founding-era symbol. The U.S. Constitution quarter depicts Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where both the Declaration and the Constitution were drafted. The fifth quarter honors the Gettysburg Address, connecting the Civil War era to the country’s longer struggle for liberty.
Beyond the quarters, the set includes the Emerging Liberty Dime, which for the first time since 1945 features Liberty on the obverse rather than Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Enduring Liberty Half Dollar replaces President John F. Kennedy and the Presidential Coat of Arms with a design depicting the Statue of Liberty, a change made exclusively for this anniversary year. The Native American dollar, nickel, and the collectible 1776~2026 dual-dated penny round out the lineup.
The Collectible Penny That No Longer Circulates
One of the most significant aspects of the America 250 uncirculated coin release is the inclusion of the Lincoln cent. The penny was removed from general circulation in 2025, meaning it is no longer being produced for everyday use. However, it remains available as a collectible item in the Mint’s annual sets. The June 30 release marks the first opportunity for buyers to obtain the uncirculated version of this dual-dated penny bearing the inscription 1776~2026 from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. For Lincoln cent specialists, this is a product they will not be able to skip. A coin once made by the billions now appears only in a tightly controlled collector format during this historic anniversary year.
The July 4 Quarter Hunt Running Alongside the Release
Timing the uncirculated coin set release just days before the Fourth of July was a deliberate choice by the Mint, and it pairs naturally with a separate but related event announced just days ago. On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Mint announced it would produce 250,000 special 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters bearing a “July 4th” privy mark. Unlike the collector set, these quarters will not be sold directly. Instead, the Mint plans to randomly mix them with standard Declaration of Independence quarters and distribute them through banks and financial institutions nationwide in time for the holiday.
Each special quarter carries the “July 4th” privy mark on the obverse to the left of Thomas Jefferson and bears no mint mark, distinguishing it from the standard Philadelphia and Denver issues. The Mint Director described the coins as a defining moment in the nation’s story, and the Numismatic Guaranty Company has announced a $2,500 cash bounty for the first collector who submits one of these quarters for grading. It is a national treasure hunt layered on top of an already historic coin release.
One-Year-Only Designs and the Semiquincentennial Program
All the designs in the uncirculated set are strictly one-year-only issues. Just as the Bicentennial coinage of 1976 became highly sought after in the decades that followed, the 2026 Semiquincentennial coins are widely regarded as future collectibles. The program was authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 and has been years in development. The coins bear a dual date of 1776~2026, and select bullion and proof issues also carry a Liberty Bell privy mark inscribed with the numeral 250. The broader Semiquincentennial program also includes 24-karat gold coin and silver medal sets sold separately, as well as the new Charters of Freedom Platinum Proof Coin series launched this year.
The Declaration of Independence quarter entered circulation on May 25, 2026, and the silver proof set, which includes the dime, quarters, and half dollar in 99.9% silver, went on sale June 11. The June 30 uncirculated set release completes the primary collector offerings ahead of the Fourth of July milestone.
How to Buy the America 250 Uncirculated Coin Set
The 2026 Uncirculated Coin Set goes on sale exclusively through the United States Mint’s official website at usmint.gov at 12 noon Eastern Time on June 30, 2026, which is today. Given the 300,000-set cap and the historic nature of the release, interest is expected to be high. The household order limit of 10 sets applies at launch. Buyers can also subscribe to the Mint’s annual coin set subscription program to ensure they receive the set automatically when it becomes available. The Mint recommends signing up for email and text alerts to stay informed about product availability, especially given the close timing to the July 4 holiday.
Why the America 250 Coin Release Matters for Collectors
Collectors who lived through 1976 know the lasting value of anniversary-year coinage. Bicentennial quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins remain actively traded today, more than four decades after their release. The Semiquincentennial program is operating at an even greater scale, with a broader range of denominations, more design variety across the five-quarter series, and the added significance of one-year-only changes to the dime, half dollar, and the now-retired penny. For collectors building a long-term numismatic portfolio, the June 30 uncirculated set represents the most complete single-purchase snapshot of 2026 American coinage available from the Mint itself.
The timing of the release, just one day before the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, adds a layer of historical weight that no other annual coin set in living memory can match.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the America 250 uncirculated coin set go on sale? The 2026 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set goes on sale June 30, 2026, at 12 noon Eastern Time on usmint.gov.
How much does the America 250 uncirculated coin set cost? The issue price is $124.50. The item number is 26RJ.
How many sets are available? The Mint has capped production at 300,000 sets. The household order limit is 10 sets per buyer at launch.
What coins are in the 2026 uncirculated set? The set contains 20 coins total, including all five Semiquincentennial quarters, the Emerging Liberty Dime, the Enduring Liberty Half Dollar, the Native American dollar, the nickel, and the collectible 1776~2026 Lincoln cent, all from both Philadelphia and Denver Mints.
Is the 2026 penny still in circulation? No. The penny was removed from general circulation in 2025. The collectible 1776~2026 penny is only available through the Mint’s annual collector sets.
What is the July 4 quarter? The Mint is releasing 250,000 special Declaration of Independence quarters with a “July 4th” privy mark randomly into bank circulation, with no mint mark to distinguish them from standard issues.
Can I subscribe to receive the set automatically? Yes. The U.S. Mint offers a subscription program for its uncirculated coin sets. Subscribers automatically receive each year’s set upon release.
Will the coin designs change after 2026? Yes. All the Semiquincentennial designs are strictly one-year-only issues. Standard designs will return to the affected denominations in 2027.
Are you adding the America 250 uncirculated coin set to your collection — drop a comment below and let us know which design you’re most excited about, or follow along for updates as the July 4 holiday release unfolds!