The U.S. Mint is moving forward with plans to produce a $1 coin bearing President Donald Trump’s likeness as part of the country’s 250th anniversary commemoration, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday.
The coin’s front face displays Trump’s image alongside the inscriptions “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “1776-2026.” The reverse side features the bald eagle image taken from the presidential seal. This finalized design represents a change from an earlier draft that was released to the public in October, which showed Trump with a raised clenched fist on the back of the coin, accompanied by the words “fight, fight, fight” — a nod to the 2024 assassination attempt on the president.
Trump expressed gratitude for the honor during an interview on Fox Business. “They gave me a coin,” he said. “That’s very unusual from what I understand.”
The announcement has not come without controversy. Some critics are questioning whether the design is even legal. A law dating back to 1866 prohibits the use of any living person’s portrait on U.S. currency, though legal experts note that restriction applies specifically to paper money produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing — not coins, which are handled by the U.S. Mint.
However, a separate piece of legislation passed by Congress in 2020 gave the Treasury Secretary authority to mint $1 coins marking the 250th anniversary while explicitly barring any design that depicts a living individual.
The U.S. Treasury had not responded to a request for comment at the time of this report.
