1976 3-Piece US Silver Mint Set

The 1976 3-Piece US Silver Mint Set was issued by the United States Mint as part of a celebration of the bicentennial of the nation. Found inside each set was a total of three coins struck to uncirculated quality from 40% silver.

The three coins of the set included an Eisenhower Dollar, a Kennedy Half Dollar and a Washington Quarter. These three coins were chosen because their reverse designs were changed as part of the bicentennial celebration.

Packaging for the set consisted of placing the three coins in individually sealed portions of a plastic sheet. This sheet had a white edge but that could be covered by a colored cardboard trim ring with adhesive backing. This trim ring was mostly blue but featured a red and white ribbon element along with the words of "United States Bicentennial" and "Silver Uncirculated Set."

The sets were then placed inside an envelope. Most appeared in a red envelope with white printing, however, some were issued in a white envelope with an image of Independence Hall.

There were three coins included in each 1976 3-Piece US Silver Mint Set, each struck from 40% silver to proof quality at the US Mint’s facility in San Francisco. A brief description of each follows:

Washington Quarter – 0.0739 oz. total silver weight

Washington Quarters made their debut in 1932 with an obverse portrait by John Flanagan of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Typically, the Washington Quarters showcased the image of an eagle with outstretched wings on the reverse, but for the bicentennial strikes the US Mint placed the image of a colonial drummer on the reverse by Jack L. Ahr.

Kennedy Half Dollar – 0.14792 oz. total silver weight

Kennedy Half Dollars first appeared in 1964 and feature an obverse portrait of President John F. Kennedy by Gilroy Roberts. The reverse image normally seen on the coin of a modified Presidential Seal was replaced as part of the bicentennial celebration with an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia by Seth G. Huntington.

Eisenhower Dollar – 0.3161 oz. total silver weight

Shown on the obverse of the Eisenhower Dollar since their debut in 1971 is a portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower as designed by Frank Gasparro. The reverse, typically showing a modified Apollo 11 Mission Insignia, was changed for these bicentennial strikes with a Liberty Bell superimposed over the moon design by Dennis R. Williams.

1976 3-Piece US Silver Mint Set Specifications