Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced the release of a new currency featuring President Trump. In a post on X on Wednesday, Sec. Bessent said the U.S. Mint will produce a new $1 gold coin featuring President Trump and honoring the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the @usmint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism,” Bessent said. “Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all.”
The preview shared by Sec. Bessent features a gold coin with President Trump’s image alongside the phrase “In God We Trust.” President Trump’s likeness is encircled by a border with the word “Liberty,” and the dates 1776-2026, commemorating the milestone anniversary of the nation’s founding.
The reverse side of the coin features a border with the phrases “United States of America” and “One Dollar,” and includes an eagle holding olive branches in one talon and an arrow in the other. The eagle is covered by a shield marked with the number 250.
The Commission of Fine Arts, which devised the coin’s design, initially recommended displaying President Trump’s profile, but the final decision was made by Sec. Bessent, who chose to include an image of President Trump facing forward.
A law passed in 2020 authorized the release of a coin honoring the 205th anniversary of the United States. The law allowed for a currency “with designs emblematic of the U.S. semiquincentennial.”
Although U.S. law generally prohibits currency featuring portraits of a living person, there are exceptions for special commemorative coins. In an appearance on Fox News, Sec. Bessent stated that the issuance of the coin with President Trump’s likeness was allowable under the law, and cited the precedent of a coin featuring President Calvin Coolidge in honor of the nation’s 150th anniversary.
According to the Treasury Department, the coin will be slightly larger than a quarter and will be composed of manganese brass. Although the coin does not contain gold, it will have a gold finish. The coins will be minted in Philadelphia and will be available in the fall.