Trump portrait appears on new US $1 coin for 250th anniversary

A portrait of US President Donald Trump has appeared on an American coin for the first time, marking the latest effort by the president to put his personal imprint on US institutions.

The US Mint launched a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump's portrait on Wednesday as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The coin bears the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” alongside Trump's likeness.

The Mint said the coins would not be released into general circulation, although they may be used as legal tender.

Federal law prohibits living presidents from appearing on US currency. However, legislation passed for the 250th-anniversary celebrations included a design provision that was used to overcome the restriction.

The coins were priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100. Within hours of going on sale, the coins were listed as “not currently in stock” on the US Mint's website. They were also being sold through vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington, DC.

The BBC contacted the US Mint, the Treasury Department and the White House for further details.

The US Mint said the coin had been “created to celebrate this historic national milestone” and described it as a “once-in-a-generation anniversary design destined to become a standout addition to modern collections”.

Although the coins have a golden appearance, they contain no actual gold. According to the Mint, they are composed of 88.5% copper, with the remainder made up of zinc, manganese and nickel.

In May, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department was planning to issue a new $250 banknote featuring a portrait of Trump.

At the time, Bessent pointed out that another living US president had previously appeared on American currency.

A half-dollar issued in 1926 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the United States featured then-President Calvin Coolidge.

The Trump administration has also pointed to the Circulating Collectable Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which was enacted during Trump's first term.

The law prohibits portraits of living people on the reverse, or tails side, of coins, but does not explicitly prohibit them on the obverse, or heads side. Trump's portrait appears on the obverse of the new $1 coins.

In March, the Treasury Department announced that US paper currency would soon bear Trump's signature, another first for a sitting US president.

By Tamilla Hasanova