What theme did the 2026 semiquincentennial dime use for its reverse design?

The 2026 semiquincentennial dime used “Liberty over Tyranny” as its design theme.

During the coin-planning process, the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reviewed candidate designs for the dime. Their selected reverse concept showed an eagle in flight carrying arrows, while the theme expressed the triumph of liberty over tyranny.

The dime was part of a larger commemorative program created for the United States Semiquincentennial. Unlike the cent and nickel, which retained their current basic designs while receiving anniversary dating, the dime received a commemorative design associated with the 250th anniversary.

The phrase should not be confused with the themes of the five special quarters. Those quarters addressed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, abolition, suffrage, and civil rights. The dime’s wording instead summarized a broader political ideal associated with the American independence story.