The U.S. Treasury Department unveils a new gold $1 coin honoring President Donald Trump 250th anniversary of the founding of the United Statesraising questions about whether a living U.S. president can legally appear on U.S. currency.
finance minister Scott Bessant The U.S. Mint will begin minting the commemorative coin, it was announced Wednesday, describing it as a tribute to the country’s founding.
Bessant wrote on the
The obverse of the coin features Trump’s face alongside the inscriptions “In God We Trust,” “Liberty,” and the years “1776” and “2026.” The reverse is engraved with the presidential seal and “250” is engraved on the shield.
Can a living U.S. president appear on U.S. coins?
The answer is more nuanced than it seems.
Federal law has long been thought to prohibit live people from appearing on most U.S. currency. An 1866 law prohibits the likeness of any living person from appearing on banknotes, and 2007 legislation establishing the presidential $1 coin program also prohibits the likeness of living presidents from appearing on those coins.
However, Politico reports that the newly launched commemorative coins appear to rely on a separate law signed by Trump in 2020. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the Treasury Secretary to issue special dollar coins through 2026.
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By law, no person, living or dead, may appear on the reverse of a commemorative coin. Some legal observers believe this wording leaves room for an effigy on the obverse, or front, of the coin.
Treasury officials said the U.S. Mint and U.S. Mint legal researchers Ministry of Finance It was concluded that the proposed design did not violate existing law. The department also clarified that the coin, which is made of a non-precious metal and has a gold-like surface, will be sold in rolls and bags starting this fall, rather than entering general circulation as standard currency.
Why is this coin so controversial?
The announcement sparked criticism from some lawmakers and social media users.
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie questioned the move, writing: “Congratulations, we’re in the home stretch. Eliminate the penny, stuff the nickel, and make some commemorative gold coins that no one can afford.”
He added, “I feel sorry for the people who are being sold worthless knockoffs by common scammers.”
The unveiling follows a proposal to put Trump on the $250 bill. Treasury officials have previously acknowledged that such a proposal would require changes to existing law, but the idea has since stalled in Congress.
Politico also reported that the final commemorative coin differs significantly from an earlier draft design obtained by the publication in October, which reportedly featured Trump on both sides, including an image of him with a raised fist beneath the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.”
