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U.S. Mint Issues Semiquincentennial Half Dollar for 9/11 Victims

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 3:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Mint released a Semiquincentennial Enduring Liberty Half Dollar honoring 9/11 victims.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the coin pledges “we will never forget” victims.
The obverse displays “9-11-01” surrounded by “NEVER FORGET.”
The reverse shows Lady Liberty passing a torch with the inscription “Knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
Philadelphia Mint struck 2,983 coins and gave them to the September 11 Memorial & Museum.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 Congress passed the World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins Act, authorizing the United States Mint to strike three commemorative coins—a clad half dollar, a silver dollar and a gold half eagle—released May 28 with the dual date 1991-1995. This followed earlier veteran programs such as the 1994 Vietnam Veterans Memorial silver dollar, showing a pattern of using coinage to memorialize recent conflicts.

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Story summary

The U.S. Mint released a Semiquincentennial Enduring Liberty Half Dollar honoring 9/11 victims.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the coin pledges “we will never forget” victims.
The obverse displays “9-11-01” surrounded by “NEVER FORGET.”
The reverse shows Lady Liberty passing a torch with the inscription “Knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
Philadelphia Mint struck 2,983 coins and gave them to the September 11 Memorial & Museum.

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