The U.S. Mint has begun selling commemorative $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's likeness, marking the first time a living president has appeared on U.S. currency in a century. The coins, priced at $61 for a roll of 25, are intended to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
The issuance of a coin featuring a living president's likeness is a notable event, as it deviates from a long-standing tradition and highlights efforts to place President Trump's image on currency, coinciding with a significant national anniversary.
The U.S. Mint has begun selling commemorative $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's likeness, marking the first time a living president has appeared on American currency in a century. The coins, designed to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, were launched on Wednesday. The special-edition money captures "the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary," according to the U.S. Mint. The coins are priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100. Despite being launched, the coins were "not currently in stock" on the U.S. Mint's website within hours of going on sale. Federal law generally prohibits the depiction of living individuals on U.S. currency, but the Treasury Secretary can authorize exceptions. Trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation that would make an exception, though the proposal is currently stalled. A half-dollar issued to commemorate America's 150th anniversary in 1926 featured then-President Calvin Coolidge. The Trump administration also cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which prohibits portraits on the reverse (tails side) of coins, but not explicitly the obverse (heads side), where Trump's likeness appears on the new $1 coins. The Thayer Amendment of 1866 bans the portrait of any living person on U.S. notes, although this traditionally does not apply to coins. The coins are inscribed with 'LIBERTY' and '1776 (tilde) 2026' above Trump's image, and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' on the Great Seal side. Initially, households were limited to two orders per household.