How Trump legally got his face on a circulated coin
By Easton Martin | September 4, 2026
A new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump has officially entered circulation as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The United States Mint began selling the coins on September 2 while describing the design as a once-in-a-generation celebration of American history.
The coin is almost certain to generate political controversy because Trump is the first sitting president in roughly a century to appear on American currency. Federal law generally prohibits living individuals from appearing on United States currency, although the administration has pointed to specific statutory authority and historical precedent supporting the new design.
The design itself places Trump’s portrait on the obverse alongside the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776 ~ 2026.” The reverse features the Presidential Seal alongside the number 250, emphasizing the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration rather than simply Trump’s presidency.
America is approaching an extraordinary milestone, and commemorative coinage has long provided a tangible way for Americans to mark important moments in the nation’s history.
The administration has also cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 as legal authority for producing the coin during the 2026 anniversary year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has additionally pointed to Calvin Coolidge’s appearance on a commemorative half-dollar during the nation’s 150th anniversary as historical precedent for depicting a sitting president.
The Mint is selling the coins primarily as collectible items, with a roll of 25 priced at $61 and a bag containing 100 coins priced at $154.50. The coins nevertheless carry a face value of one dollar and qualify as legal tender under federal law.
