Trump becomes first living president featured on US currency in a century as commemorative $1 coin launches
The US Mint released a special $1 coin bearing Trump's portrait to mark America's 250th anniversary, marking the first time a living president has appeared on US currency in roughly a century, with the previous instance being a commemorative half-dollar issued during Calvin Coolidge's presidency in 1926 for America's 150th anniversary.
What happened
The US Mint launched a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump's portrait alongside "In God we trust" to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. The coins sold out within hours of going on sale, priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100. Federal law ordinarily bars the printing of US money with the image of a living person; however, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 prohibits living portraits only on the reverse (tails) side of coins, not the obverse (heads) side where Trump's likeness appears. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously announced plans for a new $250 bill bearing Trump's portrait, though this conflicts with the Thayer Amendment of 1866 banning living portraits on US notes. Trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation to exempt the president from these restrictions, though the proposal is currently stalled.
Context
This represents the first appearance of a living president on US currency in roughly a century, the previous instance being a commemorative half-dollar issued during Calvin Coolidge's presidency in 1926 for America's 150th anniversary. The launch tests the boundaries of existing federal law: while the 1866 Thayer Amendment and longstanding policy prohibit living persons on circulating currency, statutory gaps and legislative efforts reveal potential pathways to circumvent these restrictions. The immediate sellout suggests strong collector demand for the commemorative coin.