The US Mint announced its plan to produce a one-dollar coin featuring President Donald Trump, commemorating the 250th anniversary of US independence. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated on 15/7 that the new coin will "honor the enduring legacy of freedom and the eternal symbol of patriotism."

"This coin upholds the strength of American values, along with the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving liberty for all," Bessent wrote on X.

Latest design of the one-dollar coin featuring President Trump. *Photo: X/Scott Bessent*

The obverse of the coin displays a portrait of President Donald Trump next to the inscription "In God we trust," surrounded by the word "liberty" and the years "1776 - 2026." This marks 250 years since the US adopted its declaration of independence. The reverse side depicts a bald eagle with one claw clutching arrows and the other holding an olive branch, with the number 250 integrated within.

A representative from the US Department of the Treasury confirmed the new coin is in production and will launch this autumn. It will feature "gold-like plating" but will be made from common metals.

This commemorative coin is one of many items, programs, structures, government documents, and other initiatives the Trump administration has inscribed with the President's name and image. Trump has long expressed a desire to leave his mark on the country.

Federal law generally prohibits printing images of living individuals on US currency, stating that only "portraits of deceased individuals may appear on US currency and securities." However, a law signed by Trump during his first term allows the Treasury Department to produce one-dollar coins with "designs emblematic of the 250th anniversary of US independence."

Despite this authorization, the law specifies that "bust portraits or images from the shoulders up of any person, living or deceased" are not permitted, and "portraits of living individuals" are not allowed on the reverse side of any coin. The first draft design of this commemorative coin, unveiled by the Treasury Department last year, showed Trump's image on both sides. However, subsequent designs only retained his image on the obverse.

The administration argued that placing President Trump's image on the new coin is entirely legal. "For the 150th anniversary, we had a Calvin Coolidge coin," Secretary Bessent stated on Fox News earlier this week. "So, we can absolutely place images of living presidents on coins."

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent holding a design sample of the 250 USD banknote featuring President Trump at a White House press conference in May. *Photo: AP*

Efforts to feature Trump's name and image on currency have met with criticism and opposition from some lawmakers. A group of Democratic senators sent a letter to the Treasury Department's internal watchdog in June, requesting an investigation into the resources used to develop the 250 USD banknote.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a frequent critic of Trump, also voiced opposition to the new one-dollar coin under Secretary Bessent's post on 15/7. "Congratulations, we have entered the end stages," he wrote. "Abolishing the one-cent coin, choking the five-cent coin, and minting commemorative gold coins that no one can afford. I pity those who will be tricked by familiar scammers into buying worthless fake versions of this coin."

Vu Hoang (According to TIME, Reuters, AFP)