U.S. Mint Produces 202.8 Million 250th Anniversary Coins in May

The U.S. Mint continued producing its one-year-only 1776 ~ 2026 coinage in May, adding new nickels, dimes, quarters and half dollars celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Monthly output reached 202.76 million coins for circulation, up 6.8% from April but down 69.2% from the same month last year. April’s total was revised sharply lower after the Mint corrected previously published figures that had overstated production, significantly reducing both that month’s output and the year-to-date total.

The following table shows how May’s production compares with other months over the past year:

May 2025 to May 2026 Circulating Coin Production

*The U.S. Mint revised April production to 189.9 million coins from the previously reported, incorrect total of 1.163 billion.

The U.S. Mint produces circulating coins based on orders it receives from the Federal Reserve Banks. The Federal Reserve then distributes the coins through its terminals to commercial banks and other financial institutions, helping maintain the supply needed to meet everyday public demand.

Month-Over-Month Production Changes

Recent totals also reflect a major change in the Mint’s circulating coin mix. At the direction of the Treasury, the U.S. Mint stopped producing cents for circulation in July 2025, removing what had long been its highest-volume denomination from circulating production. Cents are now struck only for collector products in proof and uncirculated finishes.

Among the most commonly used denominations, May production decreased 4.2% for nickels while increasing 75.4% for dimes and 2% for quarters.

The U.S. Mint also produces other circulating-quality coins, including half dollars and dollar coins. The Federal Reserve no longer orders dollar coins for circulation, but the Mint continues to strike them for collector products. The same was true of half dollars until Federal Reserve orders resumed in 2021. Half dollars have been produced for circulation each year since, though in much smaller quantities than other denominations, and are also struck in circulating quality for collector products.

Mintages of 2026 Semiquincentennial Half Dollars

It remains unclear how many 2026 half dollars have been produced specifically for general circulation. This year is unique for the denomination, as the long-running Kennedy half dollar design has been replaced with a one-year-only “Enduring Liberty” theme marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Half dollar production was mixed in May compared with April, rising in Denver and falling in Philadelphia. Mint figures show the following:

• January: +7.5 million from Denver and +6.3 million from Philadelphia
• February: +3 million from Denver and +1.8 million from Philadelphia
• March: +7.6 million from Denver and +3.2 million from Philadelphia
• April: +3.6 million from Denver and +7.6 million from Philadelphia
• May: +6.0 million from Denver and +6.0 million from Philadelphia

Combined production through May totals 27.7 million coins from Denver and 24.9 million from Philadelphia — 52.6 million coins overall.

For comparison, 2025 production totaled 19.8 million coins at Denver and 14.2 million at Philadelphia, or 34 million overall.

On May 26, the U.S. Mint opened sales of 2026-P and 2026-D Enduring Liberty half dollars in rolls and bags containing equal numbers from each facility. Through June 21, sales totaled nearly 10.1 million coins.

Mintages of Native American Dollars

Production totals for 2026 Native American dollars were unchanged in May following sizable increases in April. The Mint’s monthly production data show:

• January: +140,000 from Denver
• February: +840,000 from Philadelphia
• March: +840,000 from Philadelphia
• April: +2.55 million from Denver and +1.25 million from Philadelphia
• May: None

Combined production through May totals 2.69 million coins from Denver and 2.93 million from Philadelphia — 5.62 million coins overall.

For comparison, 2025 production reached 5.18 million coins, including 2.52 million from Denver and 2.66 million from Philadelphia.

On Jan. 27, the U.S. Mint began selling 2026-P and 2026-D Native American dollars, with buyers able to choose coins struck at either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint. Through June 21, combined sales totaled 1,036,350 coins, split nearly evenly between the two facilities.

The following table shows May 2026 circulating coin mintages by production facility and denomination.

U.S. Mint Circulating Coin Production in May 2026

 

In May, the Denver Mint struck 79.8 million coins and the Philadelphia Mint produced 122.96 million, lifting combined output to 202,760,000 coins.

Year-to-date, the Denver Mint struck 685.3 million coins and the Philadelphia Mint produced 681 million coins, bringing the total to 1,366,400,000 coins. This is 56.2% fewer than the 3,119,080,000 coins produced during the same period in 2025.

This next table lists year-to-date coin production totals by denomination and by U.S. Mint facility:

YTD 2026 Circulating Coin Production by Denomination

 

If the current production pace continues through December, the 2026 annual mintage would near 3.3 billion coins. For comparison, the U.S. Mint produced nearly 4.95 billion coins for circulation in 2025, marking a fifth straight yearly decline and the lowest output since 2009 — though cent production was held at zero beginning in July 2025, accounting for much of the drop compared to previous years.

Mintages of 2026 Semiquincentennial Quarters

As part of the nation’s America 250 celebration, the U.S. Mint is striking five unique 1776 ~ 2026 Semiquincentennial quarters. The five feature designs recognizing the Mayflower Compact, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address. The first three have entered circulation, while the Mint has already started producing the final two.

The Mayflower Compact quarter entered circulation on Jan. 5, with the U.S. Mint offering rolls and bags to the public beginning Feb. 5. The Mint’s reported production totals follow:

• December: +48.8 million from Denver and +31 million from Philadelphia
• January: +85.6 million from Denver and +73.2 million from Philadelphia
• February: +35 million from Denver and +40.4 million from Philadelphia
• March: +600,000 from Philadelphia
• April: None
• May: None

Combined production through May totals 169.4 million coins from Denver and 145.2 million from Philadelphia — 314.6 million coins overall.

2026 Revolutionary War quarters entered circulation on March 23, with the U.S. Mint offering rolls and bags to the public beginning March 27. Monthly production totals reported by the Mint include:

• December: 1 million coins — all from Denver
• January: +800,000 from Denver and +800,000 from Philadelphia
• February: +16.4 million from Denver and +31.8 million from Philadelphia
• March: +51.8 million from Denver and +28.8 million from Philadelphia
• April: +32.4 million from Denver and +38.6 million from Philadelphia
• May: +400,000 from Philadelphia

Combined production through May totals 102.4 million coins from Denver and 100.4 million from Philadelphia — 202.8 million coins overall.

2026 Declaration of Independence quarters entered circulation on June 1, with the U.S. Mint offering rolls and bags to the public beginning June 16. The Mint’s reported production totals follow:

• March: +1.4 million from Denver
• April: +1.2 million from Denver and +7 million from Philadelphia
• May: +40.2 million from Denver and +40 million from Philadelphia

Combined production through May totals 42.8 million coins from Denver and 47 million from Philadelphia — 89.8 million coins overall.

In related news, the U.S. Mint announced June 23 that it will place 250,000 Declaration of Independence quarters bearing a “JULY 4th” privy mark into circulation ahead of Independence Day.

Finally, in April, the Denver Mint produced 1.4 million quarters for each of the final two 2026 designs: the U.S. Constitution quarter and the Gettysburg Address quarter, scheduled for general release in the summer and fall, respectively. In May, the Philadelphia Mint added production for both designs, striking 1.6 million U.S. Constitution quarters and 1.4 million Gettysburg Address quarters.

2026 quarter mintages follow.

2026 Semiquincentennial Quarter Mintages*

*The denomination table lists 532.2 million quarters struck during the first five months of 2026, while the design table totals 613 million. The difference is the 80.8 million quarters struck in December 2025.