What is in the 2026 Walking Liberty set?
The Walking Liberty issue is the third release in the Mint's 2026 Best of the Mint series. The set combines two different pieces: a modern gold coin carrying the classic 1916 Walking Liberty half dollar design and a newly designed silver companion medal. The gold coin has a Liberty Bell “250” privy mark for the nation's semiquincentennial year.
The companion medal is not a second half dollar. It uses elements of the original design in an Art Deco-style scene, so collectors should read the product description carefully before comparing it with a regular Walking Liberty half dollar.
How it differs from an original 1916 half dollar
An original 1916 Walking Liberty half dollar is a historical 90% silver circulation coin. This 2026 product is a modern numismatic set with a 24-karat gold coin and a silver medal. The shared design makes the connection easy to see, but the metal, format, minting program, and collector market are different.
If you are sorting an older coin rather than shopping the new set, start with CoinHub's 1916 Walking Liberty half dollar guide. If you are following the current Mint series, compare this release with the 1916 Standing Liberty Best of the Mint set.
Collector checklist before you buy
- Confirm the official product code is 26BM3 and review the current Mint listing.
- Check the current household limit, availability, and total cost on the official page; those details can change after release.
- Decide whether you want the modern gold-and-medal pairing or an original Walking Liberty half dollar for a type set.
- Keep the Mint packaging and certificate of authenticity with a modern numismatic product.
- Avoid treating the issue as a guaranteed investment; collector demand, gold prices, condition, and future supply all matter.
Why the Walking Liberty design still matters
Weinman's Walking Liberty design is one of the most recognizable images in American numismatics. The 2026 set gives modern collectors a precious-metal product tied directly to that classic look while making its own semiquincentennial-era mark with the Liberty Bell privy.