Olamilekan Abayomi
President Donald Trump’s handpicked arts commission has approved a commemorative 24-karat gold coin featuring his image, marking America’s 250th birthday. The coin’s design shows Trump with his fists pressed against a desk and a stern expression, while the back features an eagle. This move has sparked debate over whether it violates American tradition, with some critics comparing it to monarchs and dictators putting their faces on coins.
The US Commission of Fine Arts, comprised of Trump appointees, voted unanimously to approve the design, citing the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which grants the Treasury Secretary temporary power to issue $1 coins with designs emblematic of the US semiquincentennial. The coin’s size and denomination are still under discussion, with some commissioners advocating for the largest possible size.
Trump has already approved the design, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to order the coin’s production. The coin will be part of a limited production run, with its value likely to be in the hundreds of dollars. The US Mint is considering a size larger than its 1-ounce gold coin, potentially up to three inches in diameter.
Critics argue that featuring a living president on a coin goes against US tradition, citing an 1866 law stating that only deceased individuals can appear on currency and securities. However, the Trump administration argues that the gold coin is a commemorative item, not currency, and therefore exempt from this rule.
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a separate federal panel, had previously refused to consider the design, with member Donald Scarinci expressing concerns about setting a precedent. The Trump administration has also proposed a $1 coin featuring Trump’s image, which faces legal challenges.
This isn’t the first time a sitting president has appeared on a US coin: Calvin Coolidge was featured on a 1926 half-dollar commemorating the nation’s 150th anniversary. However, his profile was overlaid with George Washington’s image, and the coin faced public backlash.
The Trump gold coin has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jeff Merkley, who called it an effort to “distort the meaning of America’s 250th birthday”. The US Mint has not announced a release date or price for the coin.
