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Commission green-lights commemorative Trump coin
A 24-karat gold coin depicting President Donald Trump has received unanimous approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, despite legal concerns over featuring a sitting president on currency.
Design and purpose
The coin, intended to celebrate America's 250th anniversary on July 4, shows Trump with his fists resting on a desk. The U.S. Mint presented the design to the commission, which voted to approve it after a brief discussion.
Legal questions raised
Federal law prohibits living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has the authority to issue proof gold coins, and the Mint is proceeding under this discretion. Final production details, including dimensions, are still being finalized.
Commission Vice-Chairman James McCrery endorsed the design, adding, "I motion to approve this as presented, and with the strong encouragement that you make it as large as possible-up to three inches in diameter." For scale, a U.S. quarter is under one inch wide.
Political context
Trump replaced the commission's members with allies last year, following his dismissal of the previous panel. Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York introduced the Trump (The Restrict Ugly Money Portraits) Act in 2025, seeking to ban presidents from issuing currency featuring their own image. The bill has not advanced in Congress.
Historical precedent
Calvin Coolidge remains the only other U.S. president to appear on a coin during his lifetime. The U.S. Mint did not respond to requests for comment on the Trump coin's approval.
