The Donald Trump administration is reportedly making plans to mint a one dollar coin featuring an image of Trump. This is something that rarely happens, and Congress has specific laws that prevent living people — presidents or not — from being featured on currency. So this new move understandably caused increasing concern over whether this is yet another Trump bend into authoritarianism.
The proposed coin has an image of Trump holding his fist up on the front, with an inscription at the edge of the coin reading FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. The draft design also has a profile of the president on the back, commemorating 250 years of US history with the inscription ‘1776-2026,’ and also inscribed IN GOD WE TRUST. This aligns with pretty much every Trump-aligned merch out there; from fragrances to memecoins — and there’s also the fact that his Truth Social account is a haven for misinformation under the guise of “trolling,” so the first glimpse of this could understandably be met with doubt.
The Treasury is planning to mint a $1 coin featuring Trump’s face for America’s 250th anniversary.-POLITICO
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 3, 2025
Welcome to the banana republic. pic.twitter.com/wvWpxDlSrv
However, this proposal is actually very real. Per Politico, US Treasurer Brandon Beach was the individual who personally oversaw this draft. The department released a statement saying, “Despite the radical left’s forced shutdown of our government, the facts are clear: Under the historic leadership of President Donald J. Trump, our nation is entering its 250th anniversary stronger, more prosperous, and better than ever before. While a final $1 dollar 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.”
As far back as 1866, the Coinage Act was set up specifically in case proposals such as this ever arose. The Act prevents a living person’s likeness from being placed on any currency in use in the US. It was introduced to prevent any monarch or dictatorship from mushrooming in the US — which was probably what protesters had in mind during the ‘No Kings’ marches.
However, due to the upcoming semiquincentennial celebrations, a 2020 law allowed for a $1 coin that has a symbolic figure to mark the major achievement. But this does not necessarily override the Coinage Act. In 1976 another coin was produced to celebrate 200 years, and it did feature a president — but it was of the then-recently deceased Dwight D. Eisenhower. Which would suggest this new coin should probably depict Jimmy Carter or George H. W. Bush if tradition were to be observed.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was tasked with being answerable to yet another difficult position by their administration. When Leavitt was asked what Trump’s official position is on his likeness being placed on a coin in contravention of the law, Leavitt said she’s not sure whether Trump is aware of it at all. But then Leavitt added that she’s sure Trump would love the design if he saw it.
Ultimately, if Trump does actually try to see this through — they’ll face more lawsuits. And considering it’s unconstitutional, the result would most likely prevent the administration from seeing through this seemingly vapid pursuit.
