ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The U.S. Treasury is exploring a controversial proposal to mint a one-dollar commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. This initiative raises significant legal and cultural questions, particularly the longstanding U.S. law that prohibits depicting a living president on currency.
The controversy intensified following the circulation of draft designs that were confirmed as authentic by a senior Treasury official, sparking a heated debate over the appropriateness of such an action. In response to the buzz, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach noted the authenticity of the drafts in a post on social media platform X, stating, “No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real.”
Beach assured that the final design is still under consideration, with plans to share more details once the ongoing government shutdown is resolved. His remarks were echoed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, showcasing high-level support for the project.
The draft designs are visually striking, intending to encapsulate Trump’s political image. The obverse of the proposed coin displays a side profile of President Trump, with “Liberty” inscribed above, along with the phrases “In God we Trust” and the years “1776” and “2026” marking the upcoming semiquincentennial.
Conversely, the coin’s reverse presents a more dynamic scene, featuring a defiant Trump with a raised fist—an image reminiscent of his reaction shortly after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This portrayal is further surrounded by a flowing American flag, including the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT,” which Trump directed toward his supporters following the incident.
While the authenticity of the designs has been confirmed, a Treasury spokesperson clarified that no final design has been selected as of yet. They stated, “While a final $1 dollar coin design has not yet been selected to commemorate the United States’ semiquincentennial, this first draft reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles.”
Adding a more politically charged tone, the spokesperson continued, “Despite the radical left’s forced shutdown of our government, the facts are clear: Under the historic leadership of President Donald J. Trump, our nation is entering its 250th anniversary stronger, more prosperous, and better than ever before.”
The proposed coin faces considerable hurdles due to established U.S. laws and traditions. The relevant U.S. code on coin design states, “No coin issued under this subsection may bear the image of a living former or current President, or of any deceased former President during the 2-year period following the date of the death of that President.”
This legal principle aims to uphold the separation of powers and avoid any semblance of monarchy, originating from America’s founding values. It became formal law through an Act of Congress passed in 1866, as noted by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
However, the administration appears to be maneuvering through what it perceives as a potential legal loophole. The authority to mint this specific coin springs from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act, which is a bipartisan bill that passed Congress in 2020 and was signed into law by Trump during his presidency.
This Act grants the Treasury Secretary the ability to mint special one-dollar coins in 2026, carrying designs that are “emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial.”
However, the Act also includes a restriction regarding the reverse side of the coin, stating, “No head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, and no portrait of a living person may be included in the design on the reverse.”
The draft design seems crafted to sidestep this rule by placing Trump’s side profile on the obverse of the coin while utilizing an image of him with his fist raised on the reverse—potentially avoiding the direct label of a “head and shoulders portrait or bust.”
Whether this interpretation would withstand legal scrutiny remains unclear. When questioned about the coin, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated she was unsure if President Trump had personally seen the drafts. “I’m not sure if he’s seen it, but I’m sure he’ll love it,” she remarked.
If minted, this coin would mark a rare divergence from American numismatic tradition. According to the American Numismatic Association, the only living president previously featured on U.S. coinage was Calvin Coolidge in 1926, who appeared on a half-dollar commemorating the nation’s 150th anniversary.
Although the proposed Trump coin would be categorized as a commemorative issue, it is essential to note that these coins are regarded as legal tender but are not intended for general circulation.
The project, currently in its initial stages, remains under the oversight of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach. However, the Treasury Department has refrained from issuing further comments on the potential legal implications of the draft coin.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the possibility of minting a coin bearing the likeness of a sitting president elevates a contemporary political controversy within the context of a cherished American tradition.
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