The US Mint introduced a commemorative $1 coin bearing a portrait of Donald Trump on Wednesday, marking the first time a living president has appeared on US currency in a century. The special-edition coins were created to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, according to the mint’s official statement. The coins feature Trump’s image alongside the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The commemorative coins are priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100. Within hours of the launch, the coins were reported as “not currently in stock” on the US Mint’s website. The coins were also made available for purchase through vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington DC.
Despite their golden appearance, the coins do not contain actual gold. According to the US Mint, the coins are composed of 88.5% copper with the remaining material made up of zinc, manganese, and nickel. The US Mint characterized the coins as a “once-in-a-generation anniversary design” intended for modern collectors.
The coin’s issuance relies on a distinction in federal law regarding which parts of coins can feature living individuals. While the Thayer Amendment of 1866 prohibits portraits of living people on US notes, this restriction traditionally does not apply to coins. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 prohibits living individuals on the reverse side of coins but does not explicitly cover the obverse side, where Trump’s likeness appears on the new $1 coins. A historical precedent exists: a half-dollar issued in 1926 to commemorate America’s 150th anniversary featured then-President Calvin Coolidge.
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