New Commemorative Coin Depicts President Trump

The U.S. Mint has started producing a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The Treasury Department confirmed this development on Wednesday, noting that the final design was approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump.

This commemorative coin, which will be released in the fall, differs from the initially approved version as it has a gold finish rather than being made of gold. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the coin honors the enduring legacy of liberty and acts as a lasting symbol of patriotism. Bessent stated in a post on X that it celebrates American values and the promise of preserving freedom for all.

President Trump expressed his feelings in an interview with Fox Business Network, remarking that the gesture of featuring his face on the coin is unusual, yet he feels honored by it. He mentioned the coin as “very cute.”

Trump has previously placed his name and likeness in historical records, such as in the renaming of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center performing arts venue. This move has faced criticism because federal law prohibits depicting a living president on U.S. currency. However, the treasury secretary can authorize the minting and issuance of coins under certain conditions.

The front of the coin displays an image of Trump wearing a suit and tie with a stern expression. The word “LIBERTY” appears at the top half of the arc, while the dates 1776-2026 are positioned at the bottom half. The phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” is centered on the coin.

The reverse side shows the bald eagle from the Great Seal of the U.S. with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” inscribed at the top half. The shield on the eagle’s breast carries the Latin phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” translating to “Out of many, one.”

This design differs from the original approved version, where Trump’s fists were depicted resting on a supposed desk. The Treasury did not elaborate on why this final design deviated from previous plans.

Additionally, the Treasury Department announced in March that Trump’s signature would appear on all new U.S. paper currency, which traditionally includes signatures of the treasury secretary and treasurer, not the president.