Steve Jobs will represent California in the 2026 American Innovation $1 coin series, joining a collection that celebrates the nation’s greatest innovators and trailblazers. The coin will bear the inscription “Make Something Wonderful,” a phrase that encapsulates the Apple co-founder’s enduring philosophy.
The United States Mint announced the selection in a recent press release, confirming that Jobs’ coin will depict him standing before California’s iconic oak-covered hills—a nod to the Silicon Valley landscape that shaped his legacy. The coin was designed by Elana Hagler and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, who have both worked on several pieces in the series.
Launched in 2018 and authorized by Public Law 115-197, the American Innovation collection honors individuals and ideas that have transformed the nation. Once complete, the series will include coins representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories.
Few figures embody California’s pioneering spirit quite like Steve Jobs. The son of a Syrian immigrant, Jobs was adopted as an infant and famously started Apple in a garage before being ousted and later returning to lead one of the most valuable and influential companies in the world. His vision helped shape modern computing, mobile technology, and digital entertainment.
The California coin will be released alongside new designs representing Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Collectors will be able to purchase the coins directly from the U.S. Mint’s website. A four-coin set—including Jobs’ coin—will retail for around $30, while a roll of 25 Steve Jobs coins will cost approximately $36.25.
With his image now joining the American Innovation series, Steve Jobs’ story of creativity, perseverance, and bold thinking continues to inspire the next generation to, as he would say, make something wonderful.
