"Despite Legal Ban, U.S. Moves to Issue 250th Independence Anniversary Coin Featuring Trump"

U.S. Treasurer Unveils One-Dollar Coin Design Draft
Uncertainty Remains Over Actual Issuance

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is reportedly moving forward with the issuance of a commemorative one-dollar coin featuring the face of President Donald Trump. The initiative has sparked controversy, as it is legally prohibited to depict the likeness of a living person in office on currency.

According to Yonhap News on October 4 (local time), U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach revealed a draft design for a one-dollar coin featuring President Trump's face on his X (formerly Twitter) account on October 3. He stated, "There is no fake news here. This draft, commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and President (Donald Trump), is real," suggesting the possibility of the coin being issued.

The draft released by Treasurer Beach shows President Trump's profile on the front of the coin, along with the inscriptions "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST." The years "1776·2026," representing the year of U.S. independence and the planned year of issuance, are also inscribed.

Draft design of the U.S. Independence 250th anniversary commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump's face. Yonhap News

The reverse side depicts the moment in July of last year when President Trump, after being shot during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, raised his fist and shouted "Fight." Behind Trump's head, the American flag is waving, and at the top, the phrase "Fight, Fight, Fight" is inscribed.

A Treasury Department spokesperson told CNN, "The final design has not yet been confirmed, but this draft symbolizes America's democracy and founding spirit in the face of adversity."

However, it remains unclear whether the coin will actually be issued. CNN reported, "It is against U.S. law to use the likeness of a sitting president or a living former president on coins," adding, "A person can only appear on currency two years after their death." Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 2020 also explicitly states that "the likeness or bust of a living or deceased person cannot be included." The New York Times reported, "Since 1866, the United States has maintained the tradition of prohibiting living persons from appearing on currency to avoid the impression of being a monarchy."

According to the U.S. Mint, the only instance of a sitting president appearing on a coin was in 1926, when President Calvin Coolidge was depicted alongside George Washington.