US Treasury to issue $1 Trump coin for 250th anniversary
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the United States Mint will begin striking a $1 commemorative coin bearing President Donald Trump’s portrait on the obverse. The coin is part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations marking 250 years of independence (1776‑2026). The design includes the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” on the front, with the dates 1776‑2026, while the reverse shows the Great Seal’s bald eagle and the number 250. The piece will have a gold‑like finish but is made of non‑precious metal and is slated for release in the fall of 2026. Trump said he was “honored” to receive the coin. Critics, including several Democratic senators, argue the design may violate an 1866 law that bars living persons from appearing on U.S. currency; a 2020 law permits $1 semiquincentennial coins but expressly forbids portraits of living individuals. The Treasury maintains the coin complies with the law, noting that the restriction applies to paper money, not to commemorative coins. The announcement has sparked a political and legal debate over the use of a sitting president’s image on official coinage.