Trump's Portrait Featured on New $1 Coin, First Living President in a Century

Donald Trump's portrait has been placed on a US coin, marking the first time a living president has appeared on American currency in a century. On September 3, 2026, the US Mint launched the $1 coin featuring Trump's image alongside the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. The US Mint stated that the special-edition coin captures "the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary." The coins are priced at $61 for a roll of 25 and $154.50 for a bag of 100, but were reported as "not currently in stock" on the mint's website shortly after their release. The BBC has reached out to the US Mint, the Treasury, and the White House for additional information. The coin is described as a celebration of this historic national milestone with a design intended to be a notable addition to modern collections. The coins are available in vending machines at the US Mint store in Washington, DC. Although the coins have a golden color, they do not contain actual gold, consisting of 88.5% copper, with the remainder made up of zinc, manganese, and nickel. In May, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned plans for a new $250 bill featuring Trump's portrait, but federal law currently prohibits the printing of US money with the image of a living person. Trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation to make an exception, but the proposal is currently stalled. Bessent noted that a living president has appeared on US currency before, referencing a half-dollar issued in 1926 that featured then-President Calvin Coolidge. The Trump administration has cited the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which prohibits portraits of living people on the reverse side of coins but does not explicitly cover the obverse side, where Trump's likeness appears. The Thayer Amendment of 1866 bans the portrait of any living person on US notes, although this does not traditionally apply to coins.