US Mint releases $1 coins featuring Trump

The United States Mint has released 250,000 $1 coins featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary.

The coins, released on Wednesday, are legal tender and have also entered circulation, meaning members of the public could receive them as change when making cash payments.

US Mint, in a post on its website, said the coin features a portrait of Trump designed by the United States Mint Chief Engraver, Joseph Menna, and inspired by an official White House photograph by Daniel Torok.

“The reverse (tails) design features the Presidential Seal, which shows an eagle holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, with a shield on its breast and a banner inscribed ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’ in its beak.

“The shield contains the additional inscription ‘250’ to honor the Semiquincentennial of the United States. The additional inscriptions are ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ and ‘ONE DOLLAR.’

The coins have a gold-like finish but are made from non-precious metals. They are being minted in Philadelphia.

The Mint is selling the coins in rolls of 25 and bags of 100. A roll costs $61, while a bag costs $154.50.

Some special-issue coins were randomly included in the rolls and bags. According to the Mint, those coins bear a “July 4th” mark because they were struck on July 4, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Mint said demand for the coins was high, with a virtual waiting room activated on Wednesday because of “extraordinarily high traffic” on its website.

Households were initially limited to two orders, although the Mint said the restriction would be lifted at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.

The release follows controversy over the depiction of a living president on US currency.

Federal law had previously prohibited living people from being depicted on US currency, but the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, signed by Trump during his first term, contained provisions allowing coins commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the coin “celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all.”

The Trump administration has also maintained that congressional approval was not required for the coin, citing a history of commemorative coins bearing the likeness of sitting presidents.

The US Mint has released other commemorative coins as part of the 250th-anniversary celebrations, including Revolutionary War Quarters, American Eagle Gold Coins and Enduring Liberty Half Dollars.

In June, 250,000 Semiquincentennial 2026 Declaration of Independence Quarters bearing a special “July 4th” mark were also released into circulation.