The dual date on 2026 Semiquincentennial cents and nickels is 1776~2026.
The two dates identify the historical starting point and the anniversary year. The first date refers to 1776, the year of American independence, while the second identifies 2026 as the 250th-anniversary year. The tilde between them visually links the two dates.
The dual-date format echoes the special coinage of the 1976 Bicentennial, when U.S. quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins carried “1776–1976.” The 2026 program updates that concept for the 250th anniversary and uses a tilde in the displayed date.
The date should not be mistaken for a claim that the United States was founded in 2026. It is a commemorative pairing of the independence-era year and the anniversary year. The cent and nickel retained their basic series identities while receiving the special anniversary marking.