The date 2026 appears alongside 1776 on the dual-date coins of the 2026 Semiquincentennial program.
The paired dates, written as 1776~2026, connect the Declaration of Independence era with the 250th anniversary year. The first date identifies the founding milestone being commemorated, while the second identifies the year of the celebration and coin issue.
Dual dating has appeared on earlier U.S. commemorative coinage, including the 1776–1976 Bicentennial coins. The 2026 program uses the same basic historical device while applying new imagery to the nation’s quarter-millennium anniversary.
Not every 2026 coin has identical treatment. The cent and nickel carry the dual date, while special designs across other denominations use the anniversary program’s historical themes and symbols.