U.S. Mint Begins Production of $1 Coin Glorifying Trump Amid 250th Anniversary
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The Treasury Department has announced the controversial decision to manufacture a $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait, a move that critics say politicizes the nation’s 250th-birthday celebrations.
The U.S. Mint has started producing a $1 commemorative coin bearing the image of President Donald Trump, the Treasury Department revealed on Wednesday. This coin, scheduled for release in the fall, was approved earlier this year by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts—a body stacked with Trump appointees—raising concerns about the politicization of national symbols. The final version, notably, uses a gold-colored finish instead of solid gold, perhaps to cut costs or avoid further controversy.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted on X that the coin is meant 'to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism,' language critics argue masks a clear attempt to rewrite history and lionize a divisive figure. Bessent added that it 'celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all,' statements many see as hollow given Trump’s record on civil rights and democracy.
Trump, speaking to Fox Business Network, unsurprisingly expressed he was 'honored' and called the coin 'very cute,' trivializing the gravity of such a national symbol.
The obverse of the coin shows Trump in a suit with the words 'LIBERTY' and the dates 1776-2026, while the reverse features the Great Seal’s bald eagle with the inscription 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and the Latin motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM.' Earlier, more grandiose elements—such as Trump’s fists on a desk—were omitted, possibly in response to public backlash.
Federal law generally prohibits living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, but the Treasury Secretary can grant exceptions for commemorative coins. The Treasury Department has also announced plans to add Trump’s signature to new paper money, breaking with longstanding tradition and further fueling concerns about the erosion of democratic norms.