A new $1 coin marking America’s 250th anniversary went on sale featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait on one side and the Great Seal of the United States on the other. Issued by the U.S. Mint to honor 250 years of American heritage, these coins can be used as legal tender. The design includes Trump’s visage with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY,” alongside “1776 (tilde) 2026” below his face, while the reverse displays the Great Seal with a bald eagle and the Latin phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. The design received approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
Sales, Pricing, and Stock Status:
The coins went on sale on Wednesday at noon, and visitors to the website were placed in a waiting area with an estimated wait time of one hour shortly after 12:30 PM. A roll of 25 coins costs $61, while a bag of 100 costs $154.50, with purchases limited to two per household until 2 PM on Thursday. By the afternoon, both the 100-coin bag and the 25-coin roll were listed as out of stock, though additional inventory was being made. Among the production, 250,000 coins struck on July 4th include a special-issue “July 4th” privy mark and were randomly included in the rolls and bags. Although the coin has a gold appearance, it is made from a mix of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel, with a portion of the additional cost going toward community projects and organizations.
Legal Context and Precedent:
Federal law generally bars the depiction of a living president or any living person on U.S. currency. However, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary, Congress passed the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act, allowing the U.S. Treasury to mint special $1 coins. Because the law specifies that no living person may be included on the reverse of specified coins, Trump’s portrait appearing on the front complies with the legislation. The only prior instance of a living president on a U.S. coin occurred in 1926, when Calvin Coolidge appeared on a half dollar for the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
