Apple fans and coin collectors alike just got a new tribute to Steve Jobs from the United States Mint. As part of its ongoing American Innovation $1 Coin Program, the Mint launched a coin Tuesday honoring the late Apple co-founder and his impact on technology and culture.
The Steve Jobs coin went on sale on May 12 at 9 a.m. Pacific time. It celebrates one of the most influential figures in technology history. But the image of Jobs is somewhat questionable.
Steve Jobs commemorative $1 coin release date
Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 and helped revolutionize personal computing, digital music, smartphones and tablets through products like the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone and iPad. His knack for combining cutting-edge engineering with elegant design and user-friendly software turned Apple into a tech powerhouse.
Jobs also played a major role in the success of Pixar, helping usher in the modern era of computer-animated films. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 56.
The U.S. Mint’s Steve Jobs coin is part of a multiyear series recognizing innovators and breakthroughs from every U.S. state and territory.
The coin depicts the hippie-turned-techpreneur as a young man seated in front of the rolling, oak-covered hills of Northern California. The Mint said the design was intended to capture a reflective moment that symbolizes how the California landscape inspired Jobs’ approach to technology — making it feel “intuitive and organic as nature itself.” The coin also includes the inscription “Make something wonderful,” a phrase closely associated with Jobs’ philosophy and legacy.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the tribute, saying Jobs “embodied the best of California” and helped create “the future we all know today.”
When the Mint announced the Steve Jobs coin in 2025, some people questioned the design. Lewis Wallace, the managing editor of Cult of Mac, said it “kinda makes Apple’s late leader look like a young Ellen DeGeneres.”
Available now
With a Tuesday release date for the $1 Steve Jobs coin, the U.S. Mint is selling 25-coin rolls for $61 and 100-coin bags for $154.50, significantly above face value but typical for limited collector releases.
Collectors hoping to get their hands on the coin may need to act quickly. Supplies are limited, and Steve Jobs has plenty of fans.
Buy from: U.S. Mint
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
