Revolutionary Change Awaits in 2026

December 30th, 2025
Last updated: January 2nd, 2026

As much fun as the holidays are, it’s always a little bit of a relief when the mad dash is over. Between the decorating, gift giving and going from house to house, it’s a lot to do in a short span of time! Now with the majority of the big holidays behind us, we can recuperate in our homes and settle in for the rest of the winter.

For a lot of people, that means working on things inside the home. Whether you’re interested in a puzzle, doing some home renovations, or updating your coin collection, this time of year is perfect for resolving to accomplish things you’ve been putting off.

And with a new year ahead of us, there are plenty of new coins to look forward to!

Our nation’s first allies

The first coin on our list celebrates our nation’s original allies just in time for the country’s 250th birthday in July. As we go into the eighteenth year of the Native American dollar series, this coin will honor Polly Cooper and the Oneida nation.

George Washington and his troops faced the brutal winter of 1777-78 stationed at Valley Forge. About a day’s ride from Philadelphia, the general and his men – along with the women and children who had followed them there – were cold, hungry and sick. It was clear that help was needed…and soon.

Initially, the Oneida people had tried to remain neutral as the Revolutionary War ramped up. But they couldn’t help understanding the colonists desire for independence from Great Britain. Sympathetic to their plight, Chief Skenandoah (also known as “Shenandoah”) sent a group with bundles of corn for the starving soldiers to eat.

Accompanying the group on the 250-mile trek was Polly Cooper, an Oneida woman who played a crucial role in keeping the colonists healthy. With over 60 bushels of corn given to the hungry troops, Polly was aware that it was crucial the colonists didn’t rush into eating it raw as this could cause serious illness. After arriving at Valley Forge, Polly kept the troops back while she prepared the corn into nutritious meals that would energize them in the fight for freedom. Once her time with General Washington and his troops came to an end, Polly refused payment saying that she was morally obligated to help.

Highlighting the Oneida nation’s critical role in the Revolutionary War, this coin is a great way to kick off 250 years of American independence!

Innovators gonna innovate

Kentucky Innovation Dollar - Littleton Coin Blog

A favorite for many, the American Innovation dollars are gearing up for their ninth year in 2026. So far, we’ve seen dollars honoring Pennsylvania’s polio vaccine (2019), Kentucky’s bluegrass music (2022), and so much more! Which begs the questions… what can we expect to see from the 2026 coin designs?

The four states we can look forward to next year are:

Iowa – celebrates the work of Dr. Norman Borlaug, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work championing the “Green Revolution.” A pioneer of sustainable agriculture, Dr. Borlaug traveled the world helping communities in need.

Wisconsin – displays the fastest computer of its time, the Cray-1 supercomputer. Invented by Seymour Cray, this supercomputer was used for a variety of things including recognizing weather patterns and air control.

California – will honor Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc. Designed to celebrate the creator of one of the largest tech companies in the world, Jobs played a leading role in the way that technology has transformed society.

Minnesota – recalls the revolutionary creation of mobile refrigeration. Before Frederick McKinley Jones’ invention was introduced in the early 1940s, transporting fresh goods and dairy products was a race against the clock.

So, buckle up and get ready for this road trip across state lines.

250 years of the red, white & blue

But perhaps most exciting of all, is the new one-year-only coinage that awaits in 2026! The last time that something like this happened was in 1976 with the country’s bicentennial. The 2026 coin designs for the nation’s semiquincentennial promises to be just as…revolutionary…as the coins issued fifty years ago.

For starters, the nation’s coins are getting a patriotic facelift! That means our nickels, dimes, quarters and half dollars will undergo a historic transformation – and we’ll even see a special collectible cent! But maybe even more exciting, is that the quarters released next year will feature 5 themes (similar to the Statehood, National Park and Women’s quarters): the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Gettysburg Address.

And the cherry on top? In 2024, the U.S. Mint asked the public for their favorite coins over the last 250 years. Which means that when this “Best of the Best” set is released it will feature the top 5 coins ranked by the public. And if you look close enough on each of these coins, you’ll find a special privy mark for the occasion.

What is a privy mark? I’m glad you asked! It’s a way for the maker of the coin – in this case the U.S. Mint – to communicate with the person holding the coin. And for these special coins, the mint will be using an image of the Liberty Bell with the number “250” to signify our country’s milestone.

Personally, I’m particularly excited to see what the mint does to honor the United States’ Semiquincentennial!

Ring in 2026!

Liberty 250th Anniversary coin - Littleton Coin Blog

I won’t say that 2025 wasn’t an exciting year full of great releases. In fact, I think one of my favorites was this gold plated and colorized 3-coin American Silver Eagle set. I love the look of the mosaic designs, especially when I think about the symbolic nature behind the images on the coins.

But I am very much looking forward to seeing all the exciting issues that are headed our way in 2026. Which 2026 coin designs are you looking forward to in the new year? Will you be collecting all the special 250th anniversary coinage released by the mint?

Oh! And before you go, let me just say…Happy New Year!