A recent Associated Press article entitled “U.S. Mint produces a $1 coin bearing Trump’s face to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday” is lacking important context and information, like many similar columns in various outlets.
The new golden Trump $1 coin will be comprised of 88.5% copper, 6%, 3.5% manganese and 2% nickel. And, despite allegations from many in the media objecting to the legality of the president’s face on the coin, it is not always against federal law to put a living person on a U.S. coin, nor is it unprecedented.
Even though previous laws were occasionally in place regarding putting living persons on non-circulating legal-tender commemorative coins, in the case of the new President Trump coin celebrating America’s semiquincentennial, a new law was introduced specifically addressing America’s 250th birthday. That law allows this honor and is codified in U.S. Code 31 §5112, which authorizes the production of a circulating coin with legal tender status.
Again, it is specifically related to America 250 and can only be made in 2026. The legislation was introduced by California Democrat Barbara Lee (D-CA) in H.R. 1923 of the 116th Congress and approved with overwhelming bipartisan support.
As far as precedent is concerned, there have been five previous non-circulating legal-tender commemorative coins issued featuring five prominent living people. The list includes three living male Democrats at the time: Virginia Senator Carter Glass and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Robinson, of Arkansas, in 1936, both of whom were in office at the time they were featured on a commemorative coin. Additionally, sitting Alabama Governor Thomas Kilby was featured on a commemorative coin in 1921.
Using Carter Glass and Joseph Robinson surely ruffled some feathers at the time, but Republicans allowed the images to appear. Another political figure was the beloved Democrat Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was alive when she was featured on a Special Olympics World Games commemorative coin in 1995. Even that was controversial. Additionally, only one living Republican has been featured on a commemorative coin; President Calvin Coolidge was on the sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar in 1926.
In conclusion, while President Trump’s image on a commemorative coin is upsetting to some, Democrats continue to lead Republicans 4-2 in living-person commemorate coins, which is somewhat more bipartisan than the previous 4-1 score.
This is much-needed context, don’t you think?
Editor's Note: Non-circulating legal tender refers to official coins that possess a legal face value but are minted for collectors and investors rather than for daily spending. Because their precious metal or numismatic value far exceeds their printed denomination, they are almost never used in regular commerce.
As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the @usmint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism. Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a… pic.twitter.com/PEMrsGqOEA
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) July 15, 2026
