U.S. Mint Opens Orders for $60 Freedom 250 Race Medal With 15,000-Medal Limit

Collectors and racing fans have a limited opportunity to order a new U.S. Mint medal commemorating the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and America’s 250th anniversary.

The United States Mint opened pre-sales for the 2026 Freedom 250 Race Medal on August 21, 2026, at noon ET, with each medal priced at $60. The ordering window is scheduled to remain open until September 4 at 3 p.m. ET, but mintage is limited to 15,000 medals.

The medal adds some important context missing from the original Federal Register notice: it commemorates the first IndyCar Series race held in the nation’s capital, an event tied to celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The Medal Commemorates the Freedom 250 Grand Prix

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix brought IndyCar racing to the streets of Washington, D.C., on August 22 and 23. The 250-mile race used a 1.7-mile street circuit around some of the capital’s best-known landmarks and was created as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations.

The race itself has already taken place, with American driver Kyle Kirkwood winning the inaugural event on August 23 after leading 128 of its 147 laps.

According to the Mint, the commemorative medal was created to capture the national significance of the event as well as the history and engineering of open-wheel racing. Mint Director Paul Hollis described it as both a motorsports collectible and a commemorative item marking America’s 250th anniversary.

What the $60 Freedom 250 Medal Looks Like

The medal will be struck on a half-dollar planchet at the Philadelphia Mint, an important detail for collectors that wasn’t included in the original draft.

The obverse, or front, features an IndyCar bearing the inscription “USA” alongside an image of the U.S. Capitol. It also includes the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “FREEDOM 250.”

The reverse features a portrait of motorsports businessman and Team Penske founder Roger Penske, accompanied by the inscriptions “MOTORSPORT PIONEER” and “ROGER PENSKE.” Penske played a major role in bringing the Freedom 250 to Washington, with his company largely financing the infrastructure required for the event.

Only 15,000 Medals Will Be Produced

The Mint has set the price at $60 per medal, and the Federal Register notice says the product will be made to demand based on orders received during the sales period or limited to 15,000 units.

The Mint’s own product listings currently identify the Freedom 250 medal as both “Limited” and “Pre-Order.”

That does not necessarily mean all 15,000 medals will be produced. If fewer orders are received during the ordering window, production can reflect actual demand. Conversely, collectors interested in the medal should not assume they can wait until September 4 if orders reach the maximum mintage before then.

This Is a Collectible Medal, Not a Circulating Coin

Consumers should also understand what they are purchasing. Although the U.S. Mint produces the nation’s legal-tender circulating coins, it also produces numismatic products and commemorative medals.

The Freedom 250 item is being sold as a medal, not as a circulating $0.50 coin simply because it is struck on a half-dollar planchet. The Mint currently categorizes the item among its sports and historical-event medals.

Collectors should also avoid assuming that the 15,000-unit limit guarantees the medal will increase in value. Limited production can contribute to collector interest, but secondary-market prices depend on future demand and other factors that cannot be predicted when the medal is released.

The Ordering Window Closes September 4

Pre-orders began August 21 at noon ET and are scheduled to close September 4, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. Consumers interested in the medal can review the official product information and current availability directly through the U.S. Mint’s Freedom 250 listing.

The Federal Register notice establishing the $60 price was issued under 31 U.S.C. 5111 and lists Ann Bailey of U.S. Mint Product Management as the contact for additional information.

With its 15,000-medal ceiling, Philadelphia production, IndyCar and Capitol imagery, Roger Penske portrait and connection to America’s 250th anniversary, the Freedom 250 Race Medal has considerably more collector context than the original pricing announcement alone might suggest.

Would you pay $60 for a Freedom 250 Race Medal, or would you rather spend that money on a traditional U.S. Mint coin? Share your thoughts in the comments.