A quarter of a million special half dollars are on their way into everyday American commerce. The United States Mint has shipped 250,000 special-issue 1776 ~ 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollars to Federal Reserve Banks, which will release them at random into circulation across the country.
What sets these coins apart is a small privy mark on the obverse: the date 9-11-01 encircled by the words ALWAYS REMEMBER. The mark honors those killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and in the February 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. The coins were struck at the West Point Mint and carry a W mint mark, a rare sight on a coin meant for pocket change.
They are the same West Point issue as the 2,983 coins the Mint presented to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on August 21. The timing lines up with observances marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks and falls in the nation’s 250th anniversary year. When the museum presentation took place, the Mint had announced no plans to send additional West Point examples into circulation, so this release is a notable step beyond it.
A separate collector-oriented issue is also in the picture. Philadelphia-struck 9/11 Enduring Liberty half dollars carry the words NEVER FORGET and are being sold directly by the Mint through a limited preorder window. It’s easy to mix up the two issues, and this article keeps them apart.
Specs and Details
The two 9/11 issues compared
| Detail | West Point Circulation Issue | Philadelphia Collector Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Mint / mint mark | West Point / W | Philadelphia / P |
| Privy mark | 9-11-01 encircled by ALWAYS REMEMBER | 9-11-01 surrounded by NEVER FORGET |
| Quantity | 250,000 shipped to Federal Reserve Banks | No mintage listed |
| How it reaches the public | Random release through Federal Reserve Banks | Preorder direct from the Mint |
| Cost | Face value (50 cents) if found in circulation | $40 per 20-coin roll; $100 per 100-coin bag |
| Order or household limit | Not applicable (not sold by the Mint) | None listed |
| Order window | Not applicable | Sept. 10 through Sept. 25, 3 p.m. ET |
| Shipping | Already shipped to Federal Reserve Banks | Expected to begin Dec. 3 |
Coin specifications (shared by both issues)
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Half dollar |
| Design | Enduring Liberty (one-year-only Semiquincentennial design) |
| Date | Dual date 1776 ~ 2026 |
| Composition | Clad: 8.33% nickel, balance copper |
| Weight | 11.340 grams |
| Diameter | 30.61 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Obverse designer / sculptor | Donna Weaver / John McGraw |
| Reverse designer / sculptor | Beth Zaiken / Darla Jackson |
Related numbers
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| West Point coins presented to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum (Aug. 21) | 2,983 |
| Names inscribed on the 9/11 Memorial (matches the presentation total) | 2,983 |
| West Point coins released to circulation | 250,000 |
The presentation total was chosen to match the number of names inscribed on the 9/11 Memorial, which honors victims of both the 2001 attacks and the 1993 bombing.
How to Get One: The Buying and Ordering Process
The two issues are obtained in completely different ways.
West Point “ALWAYS REMEMBER” coins: found, not ordered
You cannot order the West Point circulation coins from the Mint. They are moving through the Federal Reserve Banks and will be released at random across the country, so there is no order window, no price beyond face value, and no household limit.
For a collector, that means the hunt is part of the appeal, and it also means there are no guarantees. Some practical tips (these are general suggestions, not something the Mint has promised):
- Ask your bank whether it can supply half dollars, and check any you receive for a W mint mark and the 9-11-01 privy on the obverse.
- Remember that the release is random, so a given branch may receive none.
- Check the coin carefully before paying any premium to a seller. The West Point coin says ALWAYS REMEMBER, while the Philadelphia coin says NEVER FORGET.
Philadelphia “NEVER FORGET” coins: preorder from the Mint
The Mint began offering the Philadelphia-struck 9/11 Enduring Liberty half dollars to collectors on September 10. The order details:
- Products: 20-coin roll for $40; 100-coin bag for $100
- Preorder deadline: September 25 at 3 p.m. ET
- Limits: No listed mintage, product limit or household limit
- Shipping: Expected to begin December 3
Because the preorder runs for a fixed window and has no cap, collectors who want the Philadelphia coins should plan to order before the deadline rather than wait to see whether they sell out. The window closes in only a few days from the date of this article.
Some context on the pricing: at $40 for 20 coins, the roll works out to $2.00 per coin, while the $100 bag works out to $1.00 per coin (my calculations). Face value is $10 for a roll and $50 for a bag.
How the preorder is going
According to the Mint’s reported sales through September 13, the roll had 32,980 orders and the bag had 16,170. Assuming those figures count products rather than coins, that would represent roughly 659,600 coins in rolls and 1,617,000 coins in bags, or about 2.28 million coins combined (my calculation), and orders continue through September 25. Because the Philadelphia coins have no listed mintage, the final total depends on how many orders arrive before the window closes.
Historical Background
The Enduring Liberty Half Dollar (2026)
The Enduring Liberty half dollar is a one-year-only design created for the nation’s Semiquincentennial. It replaces the John F. Kennedy portrait for 2026, making it the first circulating U.S. half dollar since the Kennedy design debuted in 1964 to appear without his likeness.
- Design team: Donna Weaver (obverse designer), John McGraw (obverse sculptor), Beth Zaiken (reverse designer), Darla Jackson (reverse sculptor)
- Standard versions: Struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, without a privy mark. These began entering the circulation pipeline in January.
- Collector rolls and bags: The Mint began selling regular Philadelphia- and Denver-struck Enduring Liberty half dollars in rolls and bags on May 26.
The West Point 9/11 Issue: ALWAYS REMEMBER
The West Point coins take the Enduring Liberty design and add the privy mark and the W mint mark to the obverse. The Mint delivered 2,983 of them to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on August 21, one for each name on the memorial. The Mint’s director, Paul Hollis, described the privy as a tribute to the solemn anniversary.
The decision to put 250,000 more into circulation extends that tribute to the public at large. West Point is generally better known for numismatic and bullion products, so a W-marked half dollar released through banks is out of the ordinary.
The Philadelphia 9/11 Issue: NEVER FORGET
The Philadelphia coins carry a P mint mark and the same 9-11-01 privy, surrounded by NEVER FORGET instead. Unlike the West Point coins, these are sold directly to collectors by the Mint, in rolls and bags, with the preorder window described above.
The Kennedy Half Dollar (1964 to 2025)
The Kennedy half dollar is the design the Enduring Liberty coin replaces for 2026.
- Designers: Gilroy Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse)
- Original mint years: Introduced in 1964, following President Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, and carried forward for more than six decades
- Significance: The Kennedy half dollar was the circulating half dollar for so long that its absence in 2026 is itself notable, which is why the Enduring Liberty design counts as a genuine break from tradition.
The Kennedy design details come from general numismatic knowledge rather than the Mint’s announcement. Please verify them before publishing.
Obverse and Reverse Design
Obverse
The obverse shows a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty, with her gaze directed outward toward the future. It was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by John McGraw.
Inscriptions on this side include:
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- IN GOD WE TRUST
- The dual date 1776 ~ 2026
On the special West Point issue, this side also carries the W mint mark and the privy mark: the date 9-11-01 encircled by the words ALWAYS REMEMBER. Placing the privy on the obverse puts the tribute right next to Liberty herself.
Reverse
The reverse, designed by Beth Zaiken and sculpted by Darla Jackson, shows Liberty passing her torch to a new generation. Inscriptions include:
- E PLURIBUS UNUM
- HALF DOLLAR
- KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY
Edge and metal
Both issues have a reeded edge, and the clad composition of 8.33% nickel with the balance copper gives each coin a weight of 11.340 grams and a diameter of 30.61 mm.
Why This Matters for Collectors
A W mint mark on a circulating coin is unusual. West Point-struck coins do not normally show up in pocket change, so finding one in a bank roll would be a genuine surprise.
The mintage is modest for a nationwide release. A quarter of a million coins spread across the country is a small number. That said, the distribution is random and no one can predict how many will be found, so this article does not estimate future value.
The design is one-year-only. Enduring Liberty appears for 2026 only, after decades of the Kennedy portrait, and the 9/11 privy adds a layer of commemorative meaning.
There are two distinct issues to keep straight. The West Point coin reads ALWAYS REMEMBER and enters circulation. The Philadelphia coin reads NEVER FORGET and is sold by the Mint. A complete collection of the 9/11 privy issues would need both, along with the standard Philadelphia and Denver coins without a privy.
The Philadelphia preorder has a firm deadline. Anyone who wants those coins has until September 25 at 3 p.m. ET.
It carries real historical weight. The privy honors those killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and the 2,983 presentation coins tie the issue to the memorial’s names.
This article is for informational purposes and is not financial advice. Nothing here guarantees that any issue will hold or gain value.
Quick-Reference Buying Guide
- Know the difference. The West Point coin (W mint mark, ALWAYS REMEMBER) enters circulation, while the Philadelphia coin (P mint mark, NEVER FORGET) is sold by the Mint.
- Decide whether you want the Philadelphia coins. If so, note the preorder window: September 10 through September 25 at 3 p.m. ET.
- Choose your format. Order a 20-coin roll for $40 or a 100-coin bag for $100. No product or household limit is listed.
- Expect a wait. Preorder shipping is expected to begin December 3.
- Hunt for the West Point coins at your bank. Ask for half dollars and check for the W mint mark and the 9-11-01 privy on the obverse.
- Be patient. The release through Federal Reserve Banks is random, and there is no guarantee any given bank will have them.
- Verify before you pay a premium. Confirm the mint mark and the wording (ALWAYS REMEMBER versus NEVER FORGET) before buying from a third party.
- Store your finds carefully. Handle coins by the edges and use protective holders to preserve their condition.
- Fill out the set. Consider adding the standard Enduring Liberty halves without a privy from Philadelphia and Denver for a complete one-year design set.
