Numismatic News – September 8, 2026

Summary

Legislation to stop one-cent-piece production, the disappearance of S-Mint half dollars, and a 'no submission' Civil War token headline the September 8, 2026 issue of Numismatic News (Vol. 75 No. 23, $7.99).

The lead feature, Legislation to Stop One-Cent Pieces (page 24), examines the latest congressional bill that would phase out penny production, following Canada's 2012 elimination of its one-cent coin and the ongoing US debate over the cost of striking each penny — which exceeds its face value. Classic Commemoratives (page 34) surveys the most collected US commemorative half dollars from the 1892-1954 period. The Disappearance of S-Mint Half Dollars (page 48) investigates why San Francisco-minted half dollars have become increasingly scarce in circulation. The 'No Submission' Civil War Token (page 30) examines a previously undocumented token variety that was never submitted to the standard reference works, of interest to Civil War token specialists. Native American Dollars (page 22) updates collectors on the latest issues in the Sacagawea-dollar series.

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Content Guide

▸ Features

p.24 · Legislation to Stop One-Cent Pieces
A new congressional bill would phase out production of the one-cent coin, following Canada's 2012 elimination and the fact that each penny now costs more than its face value to strike. The article reports the bill's sponsors, the projected savings and the opposition from zinc-industry lobbyists. Sort your pocket change now — if the bill passes, copper-plated zinc cents could become collectible overnight.

p.30 · The 'No Submission' Civil War Token
A previously undocumented Civil War token variety that was never submitted to the standard reference works is examined in detail. The article provides attribution guidance for the new variety and explains how to distinguish it from the known subtypes. Civil War token collectors should check their albums for this specific reverse die pairing.

p.34 · Classic Commemoratives
A survey of the most collected US commemorative half dollars from the 1892-1954 period. The article identifies the key design types — Columbian, Isabella Quarter, Lafayette, Oregon Trail, Texas — and the current market values for each in circulated and uncirculated grades.

p.48 · The Disappearance of S-Mint Half Dollars
San Francisco-minted half dollars have become increasingly scarce in circulation, and this feature investigates why. The article traces the mintmark issue from the 1970s through the present, examining Federal Reserve distribution patterns and the role of silver-content speculation. Any S-mint half dollar found in pocket change today is worth at least a premium over face.

▸ Regulars

p.22 · Native American Dollars
An update on the latest issues in the Sacagawea-dollar series, including the 2026 design theme and mintage figures. The series remains accessible to budget-conscious collectors.

p.XX · Dealer Price Lists
Retail listings from major coin dealers including Steven Musil Rare Coins and Coast to Coast Coins and Currency, covering US coins from half cents through double eagles across all grade ranges.

p.XX · News and Events
Upcoming coin shows, Mint production announcements and legislative tracking.

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Editor's Take

The penny-legislation feature (page 24) is the issue's clear news hook — the cost-to-mint-exceeds-face-value angle is the kind of fact that non-collectors also find interesting, making it the best candidate for a cover line. The 'No Submission' Civil War Token piece (page 30) is the most narrowly specialised article in the issue — it will delight the estimated few hundred serious Civil War token collectors but leave everyone else cold. The S-Mint half dollar disappearance feature (page 48) is a genuinely interesting piece of monetary detective work that connects mintmark logistics to circulation reality. As with most Numismatic News issues, the dealer price lists occupy roughly half the page count, and the editorial pages are brief. The advertising-to-editorial ratio is even higher than the September 22 issue, with four consecutive full-page dealer ads in the opening well. This issue suits the bargain-hunting collector who buys Numismatic News for dealer listings and treats the features as a bonus.

Strengths
• Penny-legislation feature with cost-to-mint data and Canada 2012 comparison
• S-Mint half dollar disappearance is a genuine monetary-detective piece
• 'No Submission' Civil War Token provides new attribution reference

Weaknesses
• Civil War Token piece is too niche for a general-interest numismatic weekly
• Dealer price listings occupy more than half the total page count

Verdict: Selective read — The penny feature is worth the cover price for anyone following coin legislation; the rest is for Civil War token specialists and price-list shoppers.