United States President, Donald Trump, has become the first living American president in about a century to appear on a US coin, following the release of a new $1 commemorative coin marking the country’s 250th anniversary.
The US Mint began selling the coin on Wednesday, featuring Trump’s portrait alongside the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” as part of celebrations for the historic national milestone.
The coin is being offered as a collector’s item rather than for everyday circulation.
Despite this, it remains legal tender and can technically be used to settle debts and pay taxes, although businesses are not legally required to accept it.
US law generally prohibits images of living presidents from appearing on American currency.
However, legislation connected to the 250th anniversary provided a route for the Trump design to be produced.
The Mint said the coin was “created to celebrate this historic national milestone”, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation anniversary design destined to become a standout addition to modern collections”.
Demand appeared strong shortly after its release, with the Mint’s website showing the coins as “not currently in stock” within hours. The Mint said additional coins were being produced.
The coins were priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag containing 100.
They were also available through vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington, DC.
Although the coins have a golden appearance, they contain no actual gold.
The Mint said they are made up of 88.5% copper, with zinc, nickel and manganese brass making up the remainder.
Trump’s appearance on the coin follows other moves by his administration to place his image or signature on US currency.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in May that officials were planning a new $250 bill featuring Trump’s portrait.
Bessent noted at the time that a living president had previously appeared on US currency.
In 1926, then-President Calvin Coolidge appeared on a commemorative half-dollar issued to mark the 150th anniversary of American independence.
The Trump administration has also pointed to the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which was passed during Trump’s first term.
The law bars portraits of living people from appearing on the reverse, or tails side, of coins, but does not explicitly prohibit such images on the obverse, or heads side, where Trump’s portrait appears on the new $1 coin.
The Treasury also announced in March that Trump’s signature would soon appear on US paper currency, marking another first for a sitting president.
