WASHINGTON — The United States Mint has released a new commemorative one-dollar coin featuring a portrait of Donald Trump, marking the first time a sitting American president has appeared on the nation's currency in a century. The special-edition coin includes the traditional motto "In God we trust" and was introduced as part of preparations for the country's upcoming 250th anniversary.
Officials at the US Mint described the release as a once-in-a-generation design created to capture the legacy and pride of the nation as it approaches its landmark milestone. According to the Mint, the coin is expected to become a prominent addition to contemporary collections. Within hours of its online launch, rolls of 25 priced at 61 dollars and bags of 100 priced at 154 dollars and fifty cents were listed as out of stock on the official website.
The rollout has drawn attention due to long-standing federal regulations regarding the depiction of living individuals on American money. Federal statutes generally prohibit featuring living persons on paper currency, though legal traditions and specific legislative frameworks have sometimes been interpreted differently when applied to coinage.
Administration officials have pointed to past historical precedents, noting that a commemorative half-dollar issued for the nation's 150th anniversary in 1926 featured then-President Calvin Coolidge. Proponents of the new coin have also cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, enacted during Trump's initial term, pointing out that restrictions on living portraits typically target the reverse side of coins rather than the obverse side where the president's likeness now appears.
The coin release follows earlier announcements regarding planned commemorative currency. In May, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned proposals for a special 250-dollar bill bearing the president's likeness. Meanwhile, legislative efforts by congressional allies to explicitly carve out exceptions for living leaders have experienced delays.
Media outlets have reached out to the White House, the Treasury Department, and the US Mint for further information regarding production numbers and distribution timelines. The high demand for the initial batches highlights strong interest among collectors as the nation looks ahead to its semiquincentennial celebrations.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
