United States President Donald Trump will feature on new commemorative one-dollar coins that go on sale from September 2 at prices well above face value, according to The Independent.
The US Mint, the federal agency responsible for producing official American coinage, confirmed on its website that the special circulating dollar pieces combine everyday currency with a unique anniversary design intended to serve as a prominent addition to modern coin collections.
Minted at the US Mint facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the coins depict Trump's portrait on the obverse face. The front of the coin also features the traditional American national motto "In God We Trust," the word "Liberty," and the dates "1776-2026" marking the upcoming quarter-millennium of the founding of the nation.
The reverse side of the dollar piece displays the official presidential seal, which features an eagle holding a bundle of arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other. Despite being sold as collectible items, federal officials confirmed that the coins remain legal tender across the United States.
Coin pricing and gold edition
The government intends to sell the coins in bulk packages rather than at individual face value. Rolls containing 25 coins will be offered for $61, which equates to $2.44 per coin, while canvas bags holding 100 coins will cost $154.50, bringing the price down to $1.55 per piece.
In addition to the standard clad dollar coins, the administration plans to release an ultra-exclusive 24-karat gold coin featuring the president. The US Mint has not yet announced an official release date or public retail price for the gold edition.
However, an internal legal document obtained by Newsweek in May revealed that a US Mint representative stated only 47 of the gold coins will be produced. Each individual gold coin will contain approximately $90,000 worth of precious metal, reflecting Trump's status as the 47th president of the United States.
Legal debate and historical precedent
The plan to place a living president on American currency was first presented in October 2025, triggering immediate debate over federal coin laws. Under standard provisions of the United States Code, only portraits of deceased individuals may be depicted on national currency and financial securities, with portraits normally prohibited until two years after a person's death.
However, legal experts within the administration pointed to a collectible coin redesign law signed by Trump during his first term in 2021. That statute explicitly restricts the portraits of living individuals only from appearing on the reverse side of commemorative series coins, leaving the obverse side open for presidential portraits.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the move by citing historic precedent, noting that a commemorative half-dollar coin featuring then-President Calvin Coolidge was issued during the 150th anniversary celebration of American independence. No sitting president had appeared on a US coin since that 1926 issue, which marked the 125th anniversary of independence.
Congressional opposition and official defence
Congressional Democrats strongly opposed the administration's currency plans when news of the proposal first surfaced in late 2025. Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation in Congress aimed at blocking the production of coins bearing Trump's likeness, but the effort proved unsuccessful.
Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto criticized the initiative in December, stating that while monarchs place their faces on coins, America has never had and will never have a king. Opposition members argued that placing a sitting leader on legal tender violated long-standing republican traditions.
Administration officials maintained that the commemorative release is an appropriate way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. US Treasurer Brandon Beach stated in March that as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Treasury is excited to produce coins reflecting the enduring spirit of American democracy, adding that Trump's profile was uniquely symbolic for the obverse face.
