Donald Trump could become the first living U.S. president to have his image appear on an official American coin — if Congress approves a controversial proposal now under review by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The department confirmed it is studying the issuance of a one-dollar commemorative coin bearing the former president’s likeness to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026.
The proposal, which has already ignited political debate and social media satire, faces potential legal hurdles, as federal law explicitly prohibits the depiction of living persons on U.S. currency.
Treasury Secretary Brandon Beach shared what he described as preliminary design drafts of the coin on X (formerly Twitter), noting that final decisions would follow the resolution of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has stalled several administrative processes in Washington.
According to the images posted, the obverse side of the coin presents a formal portrait of Trump, while the reverse side shows him raising his fist before the American flag — an image that mirrors his now-iconic gesture following an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in 2024. The reverse design is also inscribed with Trump’s rallying phrase: “Fight, Fight, Fight.”
“We look forward to sharing more details soon, once the U.S. government shutdown is over,” Beach wrote in his post.
The draft design has already triggered sharp reactions among legal experts and commentators.
Under federal law, U.S. coins and banknotes may not feature the portraits of living individuals, a rule rooted in the country’s commitment to democratic modesty and the avoidance of personality cults.
A Treasury spokesperson sought to downplay the controversy, emphasizing that “the final design has not been determined yet.”
“The draft reflects the enduring spirit of our nation and its democracy, even amid challenges,” the spokesperson said, without clarifying whether the legal barrier would be addressed or waived.
The proposal is based on a 2020 act of Congress, signed into law by Trump himself during his first term, authorizing the Treasury to issue commemorative coins in 2026 to mark the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the United States. The act allows for designs that symbolize key moments and figures in the nation’s history, though it does not explicitly permit depictions of living persons.
If approved, the “Trump Dollar” would break a nearly century-old precedent. The last time a sitting president appeared on a U.S. coin was in 1926, when Calvin Coolidge featured on a half-dollar commemorative coin marking the 150th anniversary of American independence.
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