Treasury secretary unveils coin design for 250th anniversary
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled designs Wednesday for a new $1 gold coin bearing the profile of President Donald Trump, announcing that the U.S. Mint will begin production as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
“As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the @usmint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism,” Bessent wrote in a post on X. “Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all.”
The design shows Trump’s profile on one side next to the words “In God We Trust.” The Treasury Department and U.S. Mint did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the coin’s mintage, composition, release date, or distribution method.
The coin marks a rare instance of a sitting president appearing on U.S. currency. The last sitting president to appear on a coin was Calvin Coolidge, whose image appeared on a commemorative piece roughly a century ago, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats and coin experts, who have called it a monarchical move inappropriate in a democracy.
A new coin featuring Trump’s image has been under discussion for months. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal panel composed of Trump appointees, approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin in March, clearing the way for production, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The federal law enabling new one-dollar coin designs for the 250th anniversary requires design review by the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. That panel has so far refused to consider putting Trump on a coin.
“If they make this coin, it is illegal and Congress should act to stop it,” said Donald Scarinci, the longest-serving member of that panel. He said Congress should confiscate any of these coins or render them void.
The coin announcement is the latest in a broader effort by the Trump administration to incorporate the president’s name and image into federal symbols and the 250th anniversary. The Treasury Department has prepared a design for a new $250 bill featuring Trump’s portrait, and the administration has placed Trump’s name on federal buildings, airports, bridges, and commemorative passports. Some Republicans have previously proposed creating a new $250 bill featuring Trump’s portrait. Such a change would mark the most significant redesign of U.S. paper currency, though the proposal’s future remains uncertain as U.S. law prohibits living individuals from appearing on paper currency.