Washington, October 5, 2025 (Agencies): The US Treasury has confirmed that draft designs for a commemorative $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump are authentic, igniting a national debate over legality and symbolism ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
US Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the authenticity of the images in a post on X, saying, “No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real. Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over.”
The draft images show Trump’s side profile on the front of the coin with the words “Liberty” at the top, “In God We Trust” at the bottom, and the years 1776 and 2026 on either side. The reverse design depicts Trump raising his fist after the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt earlier this year, with the phrase “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” and an American flag behind him.
The coin is part of the Treasury’s preparation for the United States’ semiquincentennial celebrations. Under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act, Congress authorized the minting of special $1 coins in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.
However, the inclusion of Trump’s image raises legal questions. US law prohibits depicting a living or recently deceased president on any coin. According to the statute, “No coin issued under this subsection may bear the image of a living former or current President, or of any deceased former President during the 2-year period following the date of the death of that President.”
The Treasury appears to have tested the legal boundaries by placing Trump’s portrait on the front (obverse) rather than the reverse, where the law explicitly bans “head and shoulders portraits or busts.” The reverse still features Trump, but the Butler image may not meet the legal definition of a “portrait,” leaving room for interpretation.
A Treasury spokesperson confirmed that while the drafts are real, no final decision has been made. “While a final $1 coin design has not yet been selected to commemorate the United States’ semiquincentennial, this first draft reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles,” the spokesperson said.
At a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if Trump had seen the draft. “I’m not sure if he’s seen it, but I’m sure he’ll love it,” she responded.
If approved, the Trump coin would be the first in nearly a century to depict a living president. The last was Calvin Coolidge in 1926, when he appeared on a commemorative coin for the 150th anniversary of American independence.
The debate over the coin is expected to intensify as the Treasury approaches the final design phase, balancing commemoration, legality, and political sensitivities in the lead-up to 2026.