The dual date 1776~2026 appeared on 2026 U.S. cents and nickels for the Semiquincentennial.
The two dates identify the beginning of the American independence era and the 250th-anniversary year. The tilde between them is part of the anniversary styling and distinguishes the marking from an ordinary single-year coin date.
The cent and nickel were treated differently from the special quarter series. Rather than receiving complete redesigns for circulation, they retained their current-series appearance while carrying the anniversary notation. The cent was not struck for general circulation and was made available through Mint collector sets.
The marking can be confused with the dates on commemorative or bullion pieces, which may use different designs and formats. The specific 1776~2026 notation was associated with the cent and nickel in the Semiquincentennial coin program.