Trump-faced $1 coin launches amid legal questions
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The U.S. Treasury issued and the U.S. Mint began selling a gold-finish $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump’s face on one side and the Great Seal or a presidential-seal design on the other, tying the release to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The coin went on sale on Wednesday, September 3, according to the Mint, and the Treasury said the coins were issued on Wednesday. Both sources say the coin can be used as legal tender or is in circulation, even as critics point to a federal law that bars living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency. The release comes amid a broader second-term effort by Trump to place his name and image on major U.S. institutions and symbols.
Key Points
- The coin shows Trump as “heads,” with “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and the dates 1776-2026 marking 250 years of U.S. independence
- On the reverse is the Great Seal or a presidential-seal version, with an eagle holding arrows and an olive branch and a shield marked “250.”
- The U.S. Mint offered a roll of 25 coins for US$61 and a 100-coin bag for US$154.50, well above face value
- The design was approved this year by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in May the department was also pursuing a US$250 bill with Trump’s face, which would require Congress to change the law
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the story is less about numismatics than about how political power can reshape state symbols, legal norms and public institutions in the United States. It also matters to collectors and cross-border buyers, because the coin is being sold at a steep premium while still being presented as circulating legal tender.