Trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in a century

ByOsmond Chia Business reporter. 3 September 2026, 02: 56 BST.

Key points

• The Trump administration has additionally cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, from Trump's first term.
• Back in May, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked his department was planning to problem a new $250 bill bearing a portrait of President Trump.
• A half-dollar that was issued to commemorate America's 150th anniversary in 1926 featured then-President Calvin Coolidge.
• Although this traditionally does not apply to coins, the Thayer Amendment of 1866 bans the portrait of any living person on US notes.
• On Wednesday, the US Mint introduced the $1 coin with a portrait of Trump alongside the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST", to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

Donald Trump's portrait has created its way on to a US coin – the first time a living president has appeared on American currency in a century.

Meanwhile, the special-edition coin captures "the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary", the US Mint remarked.

Notably, the coins – priced at $61 (£45) for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100 – were "not currently in stock" on the mint's website within hours of going on sale. The BBC has contacted the US Mint, the Treasury and the White House for further details.

In practice, the coin has been "created to celebrate this historic national milestone" with a "once-in-a-generation anniversary design destined to become a standout addition to modern collections", the US Mint remarked.

They are additionally being sold in vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington DC.

While the coins have a golden colour they do not contain any actual gold. According to the US Mint, they are 88.5% copper with the balance being created up of zinc, manganese and nickel.

Federal law bars the printing of US funds with the image of a living person. Although the proposal is at present stalled, trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation that would create an exception.

At the time, Bessent highlighted that another living US president has previously appeared on the country's currency.

In practice, a half-dollar that was issued to commemorate America's 150th anniversary in 1926 featured then-President Calvin Coolidge.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has additionally cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, from Trump's first term.

While this statute prohibits portraits of living individuals on the reverse (tails side) of coins, it does not explicitly cover the obverse (heads side), where Trump's likeness appears on the new $1 coins.

Taken together, the developments around trump $1 coin makes him first living president on US currency in point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.