Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Wednesday that the U.S. Mint will begin striking a new $1 gold coin featuring President Donald Trump to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
Bessent said in an X post that the coin will honor “the enduring legacy of liberty” and serve as a “lasting symbol of patriotism.”
“Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all,” Bessent wrote.
Bessent also shared an image of the coin, which shows Trump’s portrait on one side. The word “LIBERTY” appears along the top edge, with “1776 ~ 2026” along the bottom and “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the right side.
The reverse side features a presidential-style eagle shield design with “250” in the center. The outer edge reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR.”
Federal law generally bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency. The Trump administration has said the coin is allowed under a 2020 law authorizing special coin designs for America’s 250th anniversary, according to Forbes.
The announcement quickly drew reaction on social media, with some critics calling it a “vanity project” and supporters praising it as a patriotic tribute.
“The irony is incredible – while Americans are pinching pennies to afford the skyrocketing costs of groceries, housing, and healthcare, the Trump administration is producing coins featuring Trump’s face,” Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., wrote on X. “Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have plunged our country into a devastating affordability crisis, and now they’re indulging Trump in another golden vanity project.”
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also criticized the move.
“Congratulations, we’ve entered the end stages. Eliminate the penny, plug the nickel, and make some commemorative gold coins nobody can afford,” Massie wrote. “I feel sorry for the folks who will be sold worthless knockoffs of this by the usual grifters.”
Meanwhile, others praised the coin as a fitting tribute to the country’s semiquincentennial.
“Whether you’re a numismatist, history buff, or just love a strong symbol of American resilience, these coins are sure to be in high demand. They’re a fitting tribute to the nation’s enduring spirit of liberty and determination on this milestone birthday,” one user wrote on X.
FOX Business first learned last year that the Treasury Department was considering a plan to mint new $1 coins bearing Trump’s image as part of a push to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
“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,” a Treasury spokesperson told FOX Business at the time.