Trump administration considers minting a $1 Trump coin
The U.S. Treasury is considering minting new one-dollar coins to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, featuring an image of former President Donald Trump. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach shared a draft design of the coin on social media, showcasing Trump’s face on one side and a portrait of him pumping his fist in the air after a near-assassination incident in 2024.
The proposed coin includes the words “Fight, Fight, Fight,” which Trump famously shouted before being removed from the stage by the Secret Service. A Treasury spokesperson mentioned that more details about the coin will be revealed soon.
The decision to feature Trump on the coin stems from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, signed by Trump during his presidency. This law allows the Treasury Department to mint $1 coins with designs representing the U.S. semiquincentennial for a year starting in January 2026.
However, there are legal provisions that might prevent living individuals from appearing on currency. The Thayer Amendment of 1866 prohibits living persons from being depicted on government securities. Additionally, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing states that only deceased individuals can appear on U.S. currency.
Garrett Wilson, director of policy analysis at the Tax Foundation, mentioned that there is a separate provision barring living former or current Presidents from appearing on the $1 coin. Congress could potentially make an exception, similar to when President Calvin Coolidge was featured on a half-dollar coin in 1926 for the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
If the Treasury moves forward with minting the coin featuring Trump, it would mark a significant deviation from the norm of only depicting deceased individuals on U.S. currency. The final design of the coin is yet to be determined, but it is expected to reflect the enduring spirit of the country as it celebrates its 250th anniversary.
