What is passed between hands on the reverse of the 2026 semiquincentennial half dollar?

Liberty's torch is passed between hands on the reverse of the 2026 semiquincentennial half dollar.

The half dollar's theme is “Enduring Liberty.” Its obverse depicts the Statue of Liberty, while the reverse shows the torch being passed from one generation to the next. Together, the two sides present liberty as both a national symbol and a responsibility carried through time.

The Statue of Liberty has been a major emblem of the United States since its dedication in New York Harbor in 1886. Its raised torch traditionally represents enlightenment and welcome, making it suitable for a coin focused on continuity and civic ideals.

The scene does not show the Declaration, a flag, or a wreath being transferred. Those are familiar American symbols, but the specific object on this half dollar is the Statue of Liberty's torch.