New Dime Design Omits the Olive Branch
(US Mint)
A newly designed dime marking 250 years of American history is drawing notice—not for what it includes, but for what it leaves out. The 2026 commemorative coin, created as part of a one-year overhaul of all circulating U.S. currency, removes both the long-standing image of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the traditional torch flanked by branches. In their place, the reverse side features an eagle with one talon empty, a detail that has sparked discussion.
Historically, the eagle on the Great Seal of the United States has held arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other, representing war and peace, with its head turned toward the olive branch. The updated dime departs from that symbolism, showing the eagle gripping only arrows beneath the phrase “LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY.” The missing olive branch has led to criticism online, where some have questioned the message conveyed by the design.
Officials at the U.S. Mint say the decision was intentional. Medallic artist Eric David Custer, who designed the coin, explained in an interview that the empty talon is meant to reflect the Revolutionary-era period, when colonists were still seeking peace. The front of the dime features a depiction of Liberty as a figure with wind-swept hair, wearing a cap adorned with stars and stripes, meant to evoke the spirit of revolution. According to the Mint, the design is temporary, and the dime is scheduled to return to its previous appearance in 2027.
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