Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century
Donald Trump's portrait now appears on a US $1 coin, making him the first living president featured on American currency in a century. Launched by the US Mint to mark America's 250th anniversary, the coin bears Trump's likeness alongside the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" and sold out on the Mint's website within hours of going on sale on Wednesday.
The coins are priced at $61 (£45) for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100, and are also being sold via vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington DC. Despite their gold appearance, they contain no actual gold, being made mostly of copper with zinc, manganese and nickel. The move follows plans announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a $250 bill featuring Trump, though federal law generally bars living people's images on currency; officials point to a 1926 coin depicting then-President Calvin Coolidge and a 2020 law that only restricts such portraits on the reverse of coins, not the obverse where Trump appears.
In short
- Trump becomes first living US president on currency in 100 years
- New $1 coin marks America's 250th anniversary, sold out fast
- Coin looks gold but contains none; mostly copper alloy
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that the coin is a lawful commemorative issue marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, and that the Mint’s reading of the rules is supported by the Coolidge precedent and the distinction between a coin’s obverse and reverse. They may see a limited, openly sold design as a fitting way to recognise the sitting president’s role in the anniversary and a popular collectible for the public.
The case against
Critics could argue that putting a sitting president’s portrait on currency breaks with a long-standing norm intended to keep national symbols above current political figures, even if officials say the design is lawful. They may see the coin, alongside the proposed Trump bill, as using public institutions to promote a leader and weakening the tradition that currency honours figures only after their time in office.
Explained simply
US currency includes coins and notes issued by the federal government, with designs chosen by government agencies such as the US Mint. American tradition has generally kept living people off currency, though there have been exceptions, including a coin featuring President Calvin Coolidge in 1926.
Donald Trump is the US president, and Scott Bessent is the Treasury secretary, whose department oversees the Mint. The coin’s design places Trump’s portrait on the front, a position officials say is not covered by a 2020 law restricting portraits of living people on the reverse of coins.
The coin is part of plans to mark 250 years since the founding of the United States. Its design and sale have drawn attention to how rules on currency images are interpreted and who decides what appears on American money.
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