U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach shared drafts for a new $1 coin with imagery of President Donald Trump to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, despite it being illegal to put a living person on U.S. currency.
Beach shared images on X showing drafts for a potential $1 coin with images of President Donald Trump on both sides.
Beach, who supervises the U.S. Mint, said the coin was to “honor America’s 250th birthday,” referring to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The message showed the front and back of a coin with a profile of Trump’s head on both sides and the words “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT,” a reference to the words Trump yelled to the crowd after a 2024 assassination attempt, also on one of the sides.
Beach said more details about the coin would be announced after the government shutdown concludes.
According to federal law, only the portrait of deceased individuals may appear on United States currency and securities.
Earlier this year, Trump created a special task force to plan events surrounding the upcoming anniversary.
Key Background
The U.S. Mint is a bureau of the Department of Treasury responsible for the creation of coins. Only the faces of five American presidents and two founding fathers are on bills in circulation. The Treasury Department says it considers "persons whose places in history the American people know well" as candidates whose images would feature on coins. In 2011, the Treasury suspended the production of $1 coins due to a surplus, but continued to make some for collection. Congress signed legislation in 2020 during President Trump’s first term authorising the Treasury Secretary to issue $1 dollar coins during the 2026 calendar year that would be “emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial.” President Donald Trump would be the first living president to have his image on currency if the proposed $1 coins are minted.
Further Reading