The date appearing alongside 1776 on the dual-date coins made for the America250 era is 2026.
The paired dates connect the founding year of American independence with the year of its 250th anniversary. The notation is commonly presented as “1776–2026” or “1776~2026,” depending on the coin or official design treatment.
The 2026 semiquincentennial coinage includes special designs for several denominations. The temporary program is intended to recognize the 250th anniversary of American independence while placing the anniversary directly into everyday numismatic imagery.
The two dates do not mean that the coins were minted in 1776 and 2026. They are commemorative dates. The Mint’s redesign authority came from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which permitted special 2026 designs.