The U.S. Mint announced that a special $1 coin commemorating the United States’ 250th birthday will go on sale Wednesday. The coin’s obverse displays President Donald Trump’s portrait, while the reverse features the Great Seal of the United States.
Design and approval
The design received final approval this year from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a body whose members were appointed by President Trump. In earlier remarks, the president called the idea of putting his likeness on a coin “very unusual” but said he felt “honored by it.”
Legal background
Federal law ordinarily prohibits the depiction of a living president on U.S. currency. However, the Treasury Secretary has the authority to authorize special‑issue coins, and the Mint says this release falls within that exception.
Coin details
Each coin is struck in a gold‑finished metal and bears the word “LIBERTY” above the president’s face, with the dates “1776 – 2026” below. The reverse shows the bald eagle of the Great Seal clutching arrows and an olive branch, with the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” in a banner.
Buyers can purchase a roll of 25 coins for $61 or a bag of 100 for $154.50. The Mint will randomly insert a limited number of “July 4th” marked coins—struck on Independence Day—into some rolls and bags. Households may place up to two orders, a limit that will be lifted at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.
Context and reaction
The coin arrives amid a series of branding initiatives linked to the Trump administration, including proposals to rename federal institutions after the president. Critics note the legal tension surrounding a living president’s image on legal tender, while supporters argue the coin celebrates American heritage and the nation’s founding principles.
Regardless of the debate, the Mint’s release provides collectors and patriotic Americans an opportunity to own a piece of the nation’s 250‑year story, complete with a presidential portrait that reflects the current administration’s emphasis on honoring American history.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
