(Kitco News) - President Donald Trump has left an indelible mark on the global economy. His legacy will now also be commemorated with a gold – or at least golden-hued – coin.
On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on social media that the U.S. Mint would begin producing $1 coins featuring President Trump's likeness to celebrate the United States' 250th birthday.
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
According to The Wall Street Journal, the coin is already in production at the U.S. Mint's Philadelphia facility and is expected to be available this fall.
Although Secretary Bessent described it as a gold coin in his announcement, a spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that the coin contains no gold and instead has a gold-colored finish.
Megan Sullivan, acting chief of the U.S. Mint's Office of Design Management, told the Journal that the coins will be "a little bit larger than a quarter" and made of "manganese brass."
Bessent's announcement comes as the administration believes it has found a way to circumvent current law. Since 1866, federal law has prohibited the depiction of any living person on U.S. currency.
However, the Treasury Department has argued that legislation passed in 2020 authorizes the government to mint $1 coins during 2026 to mark the nation's 250th anniversary "with designs emblematic of the U.S. semiquincentennial."
In previous interviews, Bessent has also argued that there is legal precedent for commemorative currency marking significant milestones. In an interview with Fox News, he noted that the Treasury created a Calvin Coolidge commemorative coin for the nation's 150th anniversary.
"So we can put living presidents' images on a coin."
