Exploring How U.S. Coins Preserve and Tell America’s Story
Monthly Mint Trivia: How long can coins remain in circulation before they become too worn to use?
Main Feature: Preserving our Nation’s History
Coin designs tell stories, and the coins themselves are pieces of history. Engage your students with learning materials that highlight American values and provide insight into the nation’s past. Explore the Mint’s hands-on experiments and movement-based lessons to deepen student connections.
- Half Dollar Purchasing Power (Grades 3-4): Explore the purchasing power of the half dollar through this engaging data collection and graphing activity.
- Let’s Go Shopping! (Grades K-2): Students will build an understanding of coin value and apply their knowledge in real-world purchasing scenarios.
- Coin Rubbing and Matching (Grades K-2): Learn to recognize each coin type and how to identify them through this fun, hands-on art activity.
Additional resources from around the web:
- Art Speaks: Learn to interpret and convey the significance of artwork using this lesson plan from the National Park Service.
- Painting 1000 Words: Learn how art helped to establish the world’s first national park.
Feature 1: Quarter Quest
Feature 2: History in Your Pocket
Feature 3: Mint History Trivia Challenge
Coin of the Month: 2026 Enduring Liberty Half Dollar
The obverse design shows a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty, her steadfast gaze looking outward as if toward the future. The inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776 ~ 2026.”
The reverse design features Liberty passing her torch, its flame trailing with the momentum of purpose, to a new generation. Inscriptions are “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “HALF DOLLAR,” and “KNOWLEDGE IS THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF TRUE LIBERTY.”
Trivia Answer: Many U.S. coins can last 20 to 30 years or more in circulation.