The U.S. Mint has now issued two different 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollars with 9-11-01 privy marks: a West Point "ALWAYS REMEMBER" issue that now has an announced circulation release, and a Philadelphia "NEVER FORGET" issue offered in rolls and bags.
Updated September 21, 2026, Eastern time. The September 14 Mint announcement adds a 250,000-coin West Point shipment for circulation. This update corrects the earlier uncertainty about that distribution route; the two coins still use different mint marks and remembrance phrases. The physical coin pictured by CoinHub is the W-mint "ALWAYS REMEMBER" issue. The Mint's public P-mint product page still labels its images as digital renders.
2026 9/11 half dollar: key facts
- W circulation shipment
- 250,000 announced Sept. 14
- W privy phrase
- ALWAYS REMEMBER
- Public issue
- P-mint rolls and bags
- Order window
- Closes Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. ET
There are two official 2026 9/11 half dollars
The most important collector fact is also the easiest one to miss: the 2,983 coins presented to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum are not the same product as the rolls and bags offered for public pre-order.
Both are circulating-quality, copper-nickel clad 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollars. Both place the date "9-11-01" inside a circular privy mark on the obverse. Their mint marks, surrounding words, quantities, and paths to collectors are different.
W-mint issue
Physical coin photographed
- Mint mark
- W for West Point
- Privy words
- ALWAYS REMEMBER
- Memorial presentation
- 2,983 coins
- Circulation shipment
- 250,000 announced Sept. 14
- Status
- Memorial presentation plus an announced Federal Reserve shipment
- Public sale
- No Mint public sale announced
P-mint public issue
Available in rolls and bags
- Mint mark
- P for Philadelphia
- Privy words
- NEVER FORGET
- Quantity
- No mintage limit listed as of Sept. 21
- Status
- Public pre-order through Sept. 25
- Shipping
- Expected to begin Dec. 3, 2026
Do not apply the number 2,983 to the public P-mint issue. That exact quantity belongs to the W-mint coins presented to the Memorial. The Mint currently lists no mintage, product, or household order limit for the separate Philadelphia rolls and bags.
This distinction matters for listings, grading labels, price discussions, and future population reports. A seller describing a P-mint "NEVER FORGET" coin as one of 2,983 would be combining facts from two separate issues.
Why the Mint presented exactly 2,983 coins
On August 21, the U.S. Mint announced that it had presented 2,983 special-issue coins to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The number corresponds to the 2,983 people whose names are inscribed on the Memorial's bronze parapets, honoring those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the February 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The coins were struck at West Point and carry a W mint mark. Their privy reads "9-11-01" at the center, encircled by "ALWAYS REMEMBER." The Mint delivered them ahead of the 25th anniversary remembrance and during the nation's 250th anniversary year.
The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum explains that the names are arranged with "meaningful adjacencies," placing friends, colleagues, flight crews, and first-responder units together where possible. That context gives the number 2,983 a memorial purpose, not merely a scarcity claim.
The Mint announced on September 14 that it had shipped 250,000 W-mint "ALWAYS REMEMBER" half dollars to Federal Reserve Banks for random circulation nationwide. That is a separate distribution fact from the August Memorial presentation. The release does not establish a direct Mint sale for the W coins, local bank inventory, search odds, or a final lifetime mintage.
How the public P-mint release works
The Mint's public product page opened a separate Philadelphia issue for pre-order on September 10. Its privy also centers on "9-11-01," but the surrounding phrase is "NEVER FORGET." These coins carry a P mint mark.
| Product | Mint price | Face value | Effective price per coin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-coin roll | $40 | $10 | $2 |
| 100-coin bag | $100 | $50 | $1 |
The pre-order window is scheduled to close September 25, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern. The Mint says shipping is expected to begin December 3. Buyers should recheck the live product page before ordering because price, timing, availability, and limits can change.
As of CoinHub's September 21 check, the page lists Mintage Limit: None, Product Limit: None, and Household Order Limit: None. "None" means the Mint has not posted those limits on the product page. It does not prove that production is infinite, that every order will be filled, or that no later restriction can be added.
CoinHub's guide to Mint limits explains why mintage, product, and household figures answer different questions.
The current P-mint images are renders
The public product page expressly states: "Digital renders only. Not actual product photography." That is why CoinHub's hero uses the verified U.S. Mint photograph of a physical W-mint coin instead. The photo is not presented as a P-mint product image, and the label in the graphic identifies which coin is shown.
The Enduring Liberty design and coin specifications
The special issues use the same one-year Enduring Liberty design as the standard 2026 half dollar. The obverse shows a close view of the Statue of Liberty looking outward. Its inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the dual date "1776 ~ 2026." The 9/11 privy appears in the open field to the left of Liberty's face.
The reverse depicts Liberty passing her torch to a new generation. It carries "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "HALF DOLLAR," and "KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY." Donna Weaver designed the obverse and John P. McGraw sculpted it; Beth Zaiken designed the reverse and Darla Jackson sculpted it, according to the Mint's half-dollar reference page.
- Denomination
- 50 cents
- Composition
- 8.33% nickel, balance copper
- Weight
- 11.340 grams
- Diameter
- 30.61 millimeters
- Edge
- Reeded, 150 reeds
- Finish
- Circulating quality
The coin is not silver. Its bright surface and memorial theme do not change the standard clad composition listed by the Mint.
A special issue, not a traditional commemorative program
Collectors may use "commemorative" in the everyday sense because the privy marks a historic remembrance. Formally, however, this coin grows out of the one-year 2026 circulating-coin redesign authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. It is not part of the Mint's traditional commemorative-coin program with separate proof and uncirculated silver or gold products.
The standard P- and D-mint Enduring Liberty half dollars have no 9/11 privy. CoinHub's earlier report on 2026 half-dollar production and sales covers those non-privy circulation pieces without competing with this release-specific guide.
What collectors should verify before buying
- Read the words around the privy. "ALWAYS REMEMBER" identifies the W issue. The 2,983 figure refers to the Memorial presentation, not all W coins. In contrast, "NEVER FORGET" identifies the P-mint public issue.
- Check the mint mark. The Memorial presentation coin has a W. The public rolls and bags contain P-mint coins.
- Do not confuse either coin with the standard 2026 half dollar. Ordinary P- and D-mint Enduring Liberty halves do not carry the 9-11-01 privy.
- Keep Mint packaging and receipts. Original roll or bag information can help establish how a public P-mint coin entered the market.
- Separate Mint price from collector value. The $40 roll and $100 bag prices are product prices, not published value guides for individual coins.
- Be cautious with early listings. Asking prices can appear before coins ship and before transparent sales establish a market.
- Do not clean a coin. Cleaning can permanently alter the surface and reduce collector value.
Neither a reported circulation shipment nor a pre-order price establishes an individual coin's collector value. A W mint mark alone does not prove that a coin came from the Memorial presentation. Documented provenance would be needed for that claim. The P issue remains in pre-order. A seller's asking price is not the same as a completed sale, and neither is a substitute for verified distribution facts.
Privy marks are becoming an increasingly visible part of 2026 coin collecting. CoinHub's coverage of the July 4 privy-mark quarter shows a different release model, with a disclosed quantity mixed into circulation. Use each program's own official release for its distribution details; do not transfer quantities or assumptions between them.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2026 9/11 half dollars were made?
The Mint reported 2,983 W-mint coins presented to the Memorial and later announced a 250,000-coin W shipment for circulation. Those dated counts are not a verified final lifetime mintage. The P-mint public issue had no listed mintage limit at the September 21 check.
Can collectors buy one of the 2,983 W-mint coins?
The Memorial presentation and the later circulation shipment should be kept separate. The September 14 announcement does not offer the 2,983 presentation coins for public sale or explain their eventual distribution by the Museum.
What is the difference between ALWAYS REMEMBER and NEVER FORGET?
"ALWAYS REMEMBER" surrounds the 9-11-01 privy on the West Point issue. "NEVER FORGET" appears on the separate Philadelphia coins sold to the public in rolls and bags.
Is the 2026 9/11 half dollar silver?
No. The Mint lists the coin as copper-nickel clad: 8.33% nickel with the balance copper. It weighs 11.340 grams and has a reeded edge.
How much does the public 9/11 half dollar cost?
The Mint lists a 20-coin P-mint roll for $40 and a 100-coin bag for $100. Those figures work out to $2 per coin in the roll and $1 per coin in the bag before shipping or tax. They are Mint product prices, not guarantees of future collector value.
When does the public pre-order close?
The Mint says the window closes September 25, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern, with shipping expected to begin December 3. Collectors should verify the live Mint page before ordering in case availability or terms change.
Is every 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollar a 9/11 coin?
No. Standard 2026 Enduring Liberty half dollars were also struck in Philadelphia and Denver without the 9-11-01 privy. Check both the privy wording and mint mark before relying on a listing title.
Reporting and photo note: Circulation facts come from the September 14 Mint release, verified September 21. Memorial-presentation facts come from the U.S. Mint's August 21 release. Public-order details and specifications come from the live Mint product page, rechecked September 21. The hero uses a physical W-mint coin photograph from the verified United States Mint Facebook post; CoinHub added the editorial layout and does not imply Mint endorsement.