What would a 2026 commemorative coin for the US highway system look like?

[hotdogPi]

It might be a bit too early for this, but designs do have to be created in advance.

2026 is the 100th anniversary of the US highway system.

For those who aren't coin collectors, here's a summary of commemorative coins: commemorative coins are not intended for circulation. With rare exceptions, there are three types: cupronickel half dollars (same material as current half dollars), silver dollars (large size), and gold $5 coins. The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

My idea is for the obverse (heads) to have a road going off into the distance, with a 4-way junction in the background with signage (although unreadable due to distance). The reverse (tails) will be a zoomed-in version of the 4-way junction on the obverse, showing a state-named US route shield with three different designs: US 50 (CA) for the half dollar, US 1 (FL) for the dollar, and US 5 (CT) for the $5 gold coin. "Liberty" and "2026" go on the obverse, and "United States of America" and the listing of the denomination go on the reverse.

If possible, there would be mountains on US 50 (CA), generic houses on US 5 (CT), and flatness with a mix of water and land, and possibly trees, on US 1 (FL), so that the obverse would also have three different designs.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I think it would make the most connection with the public if US 66 was reflected in the design, decommissioning be damned.

[Henry]

I think it would make the most connection with the public if US 66 was reflected in the design, decommissioning be damned.

Yes, this!

[oscar]

I think it would make the most connection with the public if US 66 was reflected in the design, decommissioning be damned.

More importantly, since these are not intended for circulation, and are to be sold at a premium, you need to connect to coin collectors, especially reaching beyond the few who inhabit this forum. US 66 would be a good way to do that.

Of the themes 1 suggested, the US 1 theme could work if it showed the original (no gap in the middle) Bahia Honda bridge, with the roadway riding atop the original railroad truss. Of course, this is a feature that didn't exist in the original 1926 system, since it was a rail bridge until the 1935 hurricane. US 50 is borderline, because of its "loneliest road" fame but no standout structure. US 5 would do nothing for me, a route that was never nationally important and also is pretty boring.

What about US 2 in Rugby ND, with its "geographic center of North America" marker alongside?

[kurumi]

Imagine (as the US did for state quarters) a coin for every US route, past and present. Sold in opaque boxes, like Pokemon cards. US 1, 30, 50, 66, and 101 are rare. Gotta collect 'em all.

[nexus73]

Imagine (as the US did for state quarters) a coin for every US route, past and present. Sold in opaque boxes, like Pokemon cards. US 1, 30, 50, 66, and 101 are rare. Gotta collect 'em all.

Bingo!  Your thought was mine too!

Rick

[renegade]

And make 'em shield-shaped, just for fun!

[SP Cook]

US route shield shaped tokens (tokens are made by non-governments. coins are made by an official mint and have a nominal value) for US 66 have been issued, I think it is a once a year thing, starting in Illinois and going west, they are up to Oklahoma.  The maker is SMI.    It is the route marker on one side and a roadside attraction on the other.  There is also a round token to start the collection.

[sparker]

Imagine (as the US did for state quarters) a coin for every US route, past and present. Sold in opaque boxes, like Pokemon cards. US 1, 30, 50, 66, and 101 are rare. Gotta collect 'em all.

Be nice if the obverse depicted a typical bit of scenery (natural or man-made) along the specific route.  US 2 (and this pertains to 422, for that matter) would be issued with two different depictions -- one a bucolic New England scene, the other either showing the Great Plains or possibly Glacier N.P.  Just a thought!

[formulanone]

Imagine (as the US did for state quarters) a coin for every US route, past and present. Sold in opaque boxes, like Pokemon cards. US 1, 30, 50, 66, and 101 are rare. Gotta collect 'em all.

Bingo!  Your thought was mine too!

Rick

I also approve of this message, although I find myself using less cash each year. I never got around to collecting all the National Park quarters, maybe just a few.

[cjk374]

Use quarters so they can be cirulated and seen by the masses. Make one for each state, using a prominent US highway number in that state. Also, use the '48 spec cutout shield.

For Louisiana, you can use the US 79/80 fraction shield instead of the '48 spec. 

[SectorZ]

Those of us who peruse the fictional forum know that one person's idea for this coin would be to nuke it from existence.

[cjk374]

Those of us who peruse the fictional forum know that one person's idea for this coin would be to nuke it from existence.

Now whoooooo could you possibly be refering to???   

[Brandon]

Those of us who peruse the fictional forum know that one person's idea for this coin would be to nuke it from existence.

He's just on the fritz.

[SectorZ]

Those of us who peruse the fictional forum know that one person's idea for this coin would be to nuke it from existence.

He's just on the fritz.

Hooting and hunting for small mammals in the night...

[hbelkins]

The "iconic state image" chosen for the West Virginia quarter was the New River Gorge bridge on US 19.

[Scott5114]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

[Road Hog]

2026 will also be the U.S.'s 250th anniversary, so my guess is coin makers will have bigger fish to fry.

[abefroman329]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

[hotdogPi]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

They are, by law.

[hbelkins]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

And does your employer allow you to exchange a couple of quarters of your own for one of those 50-cent pieces?

[abefroman329]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

And does your employer allow you to exchange a couple of quarters of your own for one of those 50-cent pieces?

Assuming Scott's employer is a casino, probably not, given how concerned casinos are about skimming and money laundering.

[kphoger]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

And does your employer allow you to exchange a couple of quarters of your own for one of those 50-cent pieces?

Assuming Scott's employer is a casino, probably not, given how concerned casinos are about skimming and money laundering.

I rather imagine him simply taking two quarters out of his pocket and doing the exchange in-hand rather than through the cash drawer.

[abefroman329]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

And does your employer allow you to exchange a couple of quarters of your own for one of those 50-cent pieces?

Assuming Scott's employer is a casino, probably not, given how concerned casinos are about skimming and money laundering.

I rather imagine him simply taking two quarters out of his pocket and doing the exchange in-hand rather than through the cash drawer.

I rather imagine his employer not liking that, maybe even liking it less than doing it thru the cash drawer.

[formulanone]

The value listed on the coin is for decorative purposes only (and to make it a coin and not a token), but nobody would ever spend one of these.

You'd be surprised. Some of my coworkers have had commemorative half dollars (liberated from Grandma's collection, no doubt, but we can't prove it) brought to the counter with two quarters to get a dollar bill to put in the slot machines.

Does your employer consider the half-dollars to be legal tender?

And does your employer allow you to exchange a couple of quarters of your own for one of those 50-cent pieces?

Assuming Scott's employer is a casino, probably not, given how concerned casinos are about skimming and money laundering.

I rather imagine him simply taking two quarters out of his pocket and doing the exchange in-hand rather than through the cash drawer.

I rather imagine his employer not liking that, maybe even liking it less than doing it thru the cash drawer.

Been a while since working a cash till, but I used to do it during the end-of-shift count, to avoid looking suspicious and unscrupulous.

Usually, you could get the foreign coinage for free, since the banks sure didn't want them, and you didn't want to give them to customers.