Donald Trump's likeness has appeared on a US dollar coin, marking the first time a sitting president has been featured on American currency in more than 100 years. The US Mint released the commemorative $1 coin on September 2, 2026, as part of the nation's 250th-anniversary celebration, with Trump's portrait displayed on the obverse side alongside the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST".
The coins are priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100, though they sold out quickly after launch. According to reporting on the release, the US Mint's website showed the item as orderable but not currently in stock while additional inventory was being manufactured. The Mint has limited purchases to two orders per household and hidden some special-issue coins among the rolls and bags as collectible surprises.
While federal law typically prohibits living presidents from appearing on US currency, a design clause within the legislation authorizing the 250th-anniversary commemoration provided the legal pathway for this release. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced in July that the Mint would begin producing the coin, citing the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 from Trump's first term. That statute prohibits portraits of living people on the reverse (tails side) of coins but does not explicitly restrict the obverse (heads side), where Trump's image appears on the new $1 coins.
The coin's approved design features Trump on the heads side and the Great Seal of the United States on the tails side. The final design was approved this year by the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump.
What is the coin made of?
Despite their golden appearance, the coins contain no actual gold. The US Mint specified that they are composed of 88.5% copper, with the remaining balance made up of zinc, manganese and nickel. The coins are being minted in Philadelphia and sold only through official channels rather than entering general circulation, according to public broadcasting reports.
How does this compare to previous presidents on currency?
Trump is not the first sitting president to appear on US currency, though such instances are extraordinarily rare. In 1926, a half-dollar commemorating America's 150th anniversary featured then-President Calvin Coolidge. Treasury officials highlighted this historical precedent when defending the legality of the Trump coin.
The Trump administration has also moved to expand the president's presence on American currency in other ways. In March, the Treasury announced that US paper money would soon bear Trump's signature, another first for a sitting US president. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Bessent previously indicated plans to issue a new $250 bill bearing Trump's portrait.
What happens next?
The US Mint stated that additional inventory was being manufactured following the initial launch, with more sales expected once stock is replenished. The fall release window previously announced by Treasury and the Mint remains the next expected sales phase for related coin products.
Key Facts
- The Trump $1 commemorative coin launched on September 2, 2026, priced at $61 per roll of 25 or $154.50 per bag of 100
- The coins are 88.5% copper with no actual gold content, despite their golden appearance
- A design clause in 250th-anniversary legislation allowed the coin despite federal law prohibiting living presidents on currency
- The US Mint limited purchases to two orders per household and hid special-issue coins within rolls and bags
- The coin's design was approved by the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump
