Panel approves gold coin featuring Trump for US 250th anniversary

A federal panel composed entirely of appointees of Donald Trump has approved the design of a 24-carat commemorative gold coin featuring the president, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, as per foreign media.

The Commission of Fine Arts voted on Thursday, March 19, to back a design depicting Trump in the Oval Office, with the dates “1776” and “2026” inscribed on either side. The proposal is part of broader preparations for the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations.

Brandon Beach described the coin as a “beautiful commemorative gold coin,” saying it reflects “the enduring spirit of our country and democracy.” He added that, as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, “there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald J. Trump.”

Despite the commission’s approval, the coin still requires final authorisation from the US Department of the Treasury. The department considers input from both the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a separate body with broader representation.

The advisory committee has previously faced criticism and internal disagreement over the proposal. According to reporting by The New York Times, some members opposed the idea of featuring Trump on the coin. Beach said the U.S. Mint provided the committee with “multiple reasonable opportunities” to review the design, but that it “expressly declined.”

“Accordingly, the Mint’s statutory obligation to seek CCAC review has been fulfilled,” Beach said, emphasising that the committee’s role is advisory and that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent holds “sole discretion on final design selection.”

The initiative follows the Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which allows the Treasury to issue $1 coins in 2026 to commemorate the anniversary. Draft designs for a circulating $1 coin featuring Trump were introduced in October, though Beach clarified that the commemorative gold coin is a separate project.

The move comes amid a series of public remarks by Trump about the anniversary. Speaking at a White House event earlier this week, he joked about wanting to “take credit” for the milestone, referencing previous achievements during his first term, including securing the Olympics and the World Cup.

Trump has also pursued other efforts to associate his name with federal institutions, including placing his name on venues such as the Kennedy Centre and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

This is not the first time Trump has been linked to coin-related initiatives. During his current term, he launched the $TRUMP meme coin and hosted a private dinner for 220 cryptocurrency investors in May, with tickets reportedly costing $1 million. The event drew scrutiny from lawmakers, including Democrats and Republicans such as Cynthia Lummis.

In parallel, Trump has supported several initiatives tied to the anniversary celebrations, including the planned America250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race set to take place on the streets of Washington.

By Tamilla Hasanova