Kiplinger explains why 2026 Lincoln cents exist at all after circulating penny production ended: the Mint is striking dual-date 1776~2026 pennies strictly as collector items available only through official Mint sets, with none shipped to banks for circulation. The piece also covers the Mint's #CoinHunt250 promotion with the American Numismatic Association and the tax rules that apply when collectible coins are later sold.
Kiplinger tax writer Kate Schubel published a consumer explainer answering a question many readers have asked since penny production ended: why do 2026 pennies exist at all? The answer — the U.S. Mint is striking a special dual-date "1776~2026" Lincoln cent for America's 250th anniversary, but issuing it strictly as a collector's item.
Collector-Only, Not for Circulation
While the Mint's redesigned 2026 Semiquincentennial nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars are being shipped to banks for everyday use, the dual-date cent is the one coin in the lineup that will not be distributed for circulation. It is available only through official Mint numismatic products, making 2026 the first year in more than two centuries with no new pennies entering commerce.
The article notes the policy backdrop: the U.S. Treasury halted circulating penny production in 2025 because each cent cost roughly 3.7 cents to make, with the final circulating pennies struck in November 2025.
The #CoinHunt250 Campaign
Alongside the collector-only cent, the Mint and the American Numismatic Association launched a #CoinHunt250 promotion encouraging Americans to check their change for newly released semiquincentennial designs — a treasure-hunt framing intended to renew public interest in circulating coinage during the anniversary year.
Tax Implications for Collectors
True to its personal-finance focus, the piece walks through what happens if collector pennies appreciate:
- Coins are collectibles under IRS rules, so long-term gains can be taxed at up to a 28% rate — higher than standard long-term capital gains rates
- High earners may also owe the 3.8% net investment income tax
- Collectors should track cost basis (purchase price plus certain costs) to compute gains correctly when selling
Why It Matters
For the penny-policy story, the piece documents the federal government's middle path: production for commerce has ended, but the denomination survives — for now — as a commemorative collectible. Whether the cent appears in 2027 product lineups remains an open question.