A Dollar Coin Featuring Trump’s Portrait Expected to Be Issued Next Year
The U.S. Treasury has revealed draft designs for a special dollar coin marking America’s 250th anniversary, featuring Donald Trump’s profile. A recent congressional act may allow it despite the legal ban on living presidents appearing on currency.
The United States Treasury Department has unveiled controversial drafts for a commemorative coin celebrating 250 years of American independence.
Under current U.S. law, it is explicitly forbidden to depict the image of a living president on any coin, but a recently passed congressional law could permit the move through creative legal interpretation.
This is not fake news: the portrait of President Donald Trump may appear on a special dollar coin to be issued in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, according to initial drafts approved by the Treasury Department.
In a post on the X network, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the drafts, writing: “The first designs honoring America’s 250th birthday and the President are real.
Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the government shutdown is over”.
According to the published drafts, the front side of the coin would feature the profile of the sitting president alongside the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust,” with the years 1776 — when American independence was declared — and 2026 inscribed below.
The reverse side would depict a replica of the famous image from the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania, showing Trump raising his fist beside the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT”.
While the U.S. routinely issues commemorative coins for special occasions, these are usually not released for general circulation.
It therefore remains unclear whether this controversial coin will actually be produced.
Current U.S. law prohibits displaying the portrait of any living or recently deceased president on currency and stipulates that a president may only appear on a coin at least two years after his death.
So far, the only president to have appeared on a coin during his lifetime was Calvin Coolidge in 1926.
Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, Congress approved a law allowing the redesign of circulating commemorative coins.
Under this law, the Treasury may issue special dollar coins for the event.
However, the same legislation includes restrictions that could pose a legal obstacle: “No portrait of any person, living or dead, may appear in head-and-shoulders form or as a statue, nor may the reverse side feature a portrait of any living person”.
In the drafts, Trump’s side-profile portrait appears on the front, seemingly avoiding violation of the law.
On the reverse, he is also depicted, but it remains unclear whether this constitutes a breach, since it is not certain whether the image qualifies as a “head-and-shoulders portrait or statue”.
For now, the Treasury Department states that no final design has been selected.
“Although a final design for the dollar coin marking America’s 250th anniversary has not yet been chosen, this first draft reflects the enduring spirit of our nation and our democracy, even in the face of great challenges,” a Treasury spokesperson told CNN, adding that further updates will follow once the government shutdown ends due to budget disputes.
Under current U.S. law, it is explicitly forbidden to depict the image of a living president on any coin, but a recently passed congressional law could permit the move through creative legal interpretation.
This is not fake news: the portrait of President Donald Trump may appear on a special dollar coin to be issued in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, according to initial drafts approved by the Treasury Department.
In a post on the X network, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the drafts, writing: “The first designs honoring America’s 250th birthday and the President are real.
Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the government shutdown is over”.
According to the published drafts, the front side of the coin would feature the profile of the sitting president alongside the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust,” with the years 1776 — when American independence was declared — and 2026 inscribed below.
The reverse side would depict a replica of the famous image from the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania, showing Trump raising his fist beside the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT”.
While the U.S. routinely issues commemorative coins for special occasions, these are usually not released for general circulation.
It therefore remains unclear whether this controversial coin will actually be produced.
Current U.S. law prohibits displaying the portrait of any living or recently deceased president on currency and stipulates that a president may only appear on a coin at least two years after his death.
So far, the only president to have appeared on a coin during his lifetime was Calvin Coolidge in 1926.
Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, Congress approved a law allowing the redesign of circulating commemorative coins.
Under this law, the Treasury may issue special dollar coins for the event.
However, the same legislation includes restrictions that could pose a legal obstacle: “No portrait of any person, living or dead, may appear in head-and-shoulders form or as a statue, nor may the reverse side feature a portrait of any living person”.
In the drafts, Trump’s side-profile portrait appears on the front, seemingly avoiding violation of the law.
On the reverse, he is also depicted, but it remains unclear whether this constitutes a breach, since it is not certain whether the image qualifies as a “head-and-shoulders portrait or statue”.
For now, the Treasury Department states that no final design has been selected.
“Although a final design for the dollar coin marking America’s 250th anniversary has not yet been chosen, this first draft reflects the enduring spirit of our nation and our democracy, even in the face of great challenges,” a Treasury spokesperson told CNN, adding that further updates will follow once the government shutdown ends due to budget disputes.
