U.S. coins issued for the 2026 Semiquincentennial use the dual date 1776–2026.
The first year refers to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the founding event whose 250th anniversary is commemorated. The second year is 2026, the anniversary year. A dual date lets the coins show both the historical starting point and the modern commemoration.
The design choice echoes the United States Bicentennial coinage of 1975 and 1976, which carried the dates 1776–1976. The earlier coins marked 200 years, while the newer issues mark 250 years.
The dual date should not be confused with the date of the Constitution. The Constitution was signed in 1787, but America250 is centered on the 1776 Declaration and the nation’s independence anniversary. The exact typography may vary by denomination or mint product, but the two-year span is the key identifying feature.