Expected 2026 U.S. Numismatic Boom Underway

Whenever there has been a significant change in America’s coins and currency, there has been a surge in people collecting coins and currency.

This happened in 1857 when Half Cent production ended, and the Large Cent was replaced with the smaller Flying Eagle Cent. This again happened in 1909 with the first actual person depicted on a circulating U.S. coin. There was a tremendous surge in the number of collectors when the Kennedy Half Dollar debuted in early 1964, followed by the U.S. Mint ending the production of silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars for circulation. After the debut of the U.S. Statehood Quarter series in 1999, the U.S. Mint issued a news release stating that 100 million people were collecting them.

With this track record in mind, the issue of one-year designs on circulating dimes and quarters this year, the dual date on the circulating nickel, and the dual date cent and a one-year design for the half dollar in 2026 collector sets were bound to spark another surge in collector interest.

In anticipation of interest from a large number of new collectors, dealers, and existing collectors typically try to ramp up their purchases in advance before possible price increases. Such an increase in demand can cause price rises.

That has already happened. 

Two weeks ago, I traveled to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for a combination work and vacation trip. While there, I visited multiple dealers at their premises and walked the floor at the Texas Numismatic Association show, as I have done in years past. This time I found much less inventory to peruse than during previous excursions, consequently spending less.

As a rough reflection, it seemed like attractive U.S. Type Coins certified by third-party grading services that retail in the $75 to $1,000 range have largely disappeared from dealer inventories.  Of those few I did see, the average price seemed to be at least 10 percent higher than they were at the beginning of the year, well in advance of any prices listed in guides.

The numismatic boom we experienced after the start of the Statehood Quarter series peaked around 2002 for U.S. Proof Sets and typical grades of key-date coins sought by collectors.  Therefore, don’t be surprised if the market boom now underway may continue for at least a few years, without regard to what happens to precious metals prices.

Last time I asked—Which denominations has the U.S. government issued in both coin and currency?  The answer--3¢ 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1.00, $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00, and $100.00.

Here is this week’s question. Which person depicted on today’s U.S. currency issues was not born in what is now the United States of America? Come back next week for the answer.

Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, the 2017 Exemplary Service Award, the 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and the 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild, Professional Numismatists Guild, National Coin & Bullion Association, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Michigan, and writes “Liberty’s Outlook,” a quarterly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. He now volunteers with the National Coin & Bullion Association as its Industry Issues Advisor.  Past newsletter issues can be viewed at www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries, "Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So,” and “Important News You Need To Know,” can be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at www.1320wils.com).

You may also like:

As Money Changes, So Do Collectors

Will Coin Collecting Survive Melting?

Prices Dip, Collecting Thrives