U.S. Mint Offers Limited-Time 9/11 Privy Half Dollars

The United States Mint begins accepting preorders today for 2026 Semiquincentennial Enduring Liberty half dollars carrying a special NEVER FORGET 9/11 privy mark. Ordering starts at noon ET, with the Philadelphia-struck coins offered in rolls and bags only through Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. ET.

They carry a P mint mark for the Philadelphia Mint and pair the one-year-only Enduring Liberty design and dual date 1776 ~ 2026 with a privy of 9-11-01 encircled by the words NEVER FORGET. Non-privy Enduring Liberty halves released earlier this year for circulation were struck at both Philadelphia and Denver Mints. The 2026 design also replaces the John F. Kennedy portrait used on U.S. half dollars since 1964.

The circulating-quality clad coins are offered in a 20-coin roll for $40 and a 100-coin bag for $100, representing $10 and $50 in face value, respectively. Neither option carries a listed mintage, product or household order limit. Shipping is expected to begin Dec. 3.

Commemorating those killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the Feb. 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center, the 9/11 coins arrive as the nation prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks while also celebrating 250 years since the nation’s founding.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the special half dollars “embody the honor and bravery of the victims, survivors, and first responders,” while Mint Director Paul Hollis described them as “a tangible reminder of how the Nation came together on that fateful day, and provides us opportunity to educate younger generations.”

Collector Demand for Enduring Liberty Halves

The one-year-only Enduring Liberty half dollar entered circulation earlier this year as part of the nation’s Semiquincentennial coinage. The Mint also began selling circulating-quality examples directly to collectors on May 26 in $60 two-roll sets containing one 20-coin roll each from Philadelphia and Denver, and $180 200-coin bags holding 100 coins from each facility.

Collector demand has been strong. Reported sales through Sept. 7 show 99,749 two-roll sets, or 99.7% of the product limit of 100,000. Those sets have been listed as unavailable for some time. Sales of the still-available 200-coin bags reached 43,883, or 87.8% of their 50,000 limit.

Together, reported sales of those collector products represent 12,766,560 Enduring Liberty half dollars, apart from additional Philadelphia- and Denver-struck coins released for circulation in commerce.

Different From 2,983 West Point 9/11 Half Dollars

The new Philadelphia issue also differs in several important ways from the 2,983 special Enduring Liberty half dollars presented by the Mint to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Aug. 21.

Those coins were struck at the West Point Mint, carry a W mint mark and feature 9-11-01 surrounded by the words ALWAYS REMEMBER, a phrase also used on the Mint’s 2011 September 11 National Medal. Their mintage of 2,983 corresponds to the number of names inscribed on the Memorial, representing victims of both the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The Mint has not announced a public sale of those West Point coins. The new Philadelphia pieces are a separate issue, distinguished by their P mint mark and NEVER FORGET privy.

Enduring Liberty Half Dollar Design

Both 9/11 issues use the Enduring Liberty design created for the Semiquincentennial.

The obverse features a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty, her gaze directed outward toward the future. Designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by John McGraw, it carries the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST and the dual date 1776 ~ 2026. The 9/11 privy appears on this side of the coin.

The reverse, designed by Beth Zaiken and sculpted by Darla Jackson, depicts Liberty passing her torch to a new generation. Inscriptions include E PLURIBUS UNUM, HALF DOLLAR and KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY.

Each is composed of 8.33% nickel with the balance copper, weighs 11.340 grams, measures 30.61 mm in diameter and has a reeded edge.

Ordering

The 9/11 Enduring Liberty half dollar roll and bag may be ordered through the U.S. Mint’s half dollars page during the Sept. 10-25 preorder window. The Mint expects shipments to begin Dec. 3.