WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US Mint began selling $1 coins featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The coins are legal tender.

Sales commenced at noon ET, with individual coin prices ranging from about $1.55 to $2.44 per coin, according to reports. A roll of 25 coins costs $61, while a bag of 100 coins costs $154.50. Approximately 9 million of the coins are being produced for circulation.

One side of the coin features a portrait of Trump with the inscriptions "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST". The years "1776 ~ 2026" appear below the portrait on the obverse side of the coin. The portrait was designed by US Mint Chief Engraver Joseph Menna and was inspired by an official White House photograph taken by Daniel Torok.

The reverse side of the coin depicts the Great Seal of the United States or the presidential seal. The reverse side includes the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DOLLAR". The number "250" is inscribed on the shield of the eagle on the reverse side. The reverse carries the Presidential Seal, originally sculpted by former chief engraver Frank Gasparro, with the numeral 250 added to the eagle's shield to mark the country's 250th anniversary, according to reports.

The coins are gold-colored but do not contain precious metal. They are made from zinc, manganese, nickel, and copper. The US Mint stated the coins honor 250 years of great American heritage.

Special production efforts included striking 250,000 of the coins on July 4 at the Philadelphia Mint, which feature a special "July 4th" privy mark. The special-issue coins are distributed randomly among the rolls and bags sold. Households are limited to two orders of the coins until 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.

The design was approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Trump appointed the members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The coin’s design — Trump’s visage as 'heads' and the Great Seal of the United States as 'tails' — was given the stamp of approval this year by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members Trump appointed, according to reports.

Trump said the idea to stamp his face on a coin was "very unusual" but that he was "honored by it." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that a coin featuring President Calvin Coolidge was issued during the nation's 150th anniversary, establishing precedent for the Trump coin.

Legal and legislative challenges have accompanied the release. In May, Democratic members of Congress wrote to the Treasury Department urging them to stop production of the coin. In December 2025, Senators Jeff Merkley and Catherine Cortez Masto introduced a bill seeking to block the Trump coin. In March, retired attorney James Rickher filed a request to block the coin, arguing it was illegal.

In June, a federal judge denied James Rickher's motion, writing that he had "failed to present evidence that clearly shows he will personally suffer concrete harm from issuance of the challenged coin". The judge noted that his ruling did not determine whether the coin is illegal or legal. Gabriel Mathy said of the Trump coin, For me, I would consider it illegal. "But the United States has all these laws, which really are norms because they’re not really enforceable."

Why It Matters

The release marks a departure from historical norms regarding living figures on currency. In 1866, Congress passed an amendment barring the portrait or likeness of living people from appearing on paper currency. The 1866 ban on living portraits arose after Treasury official Spencer M Clark printed his own face on a five-cent note intended for explorer William Clark. However, the 1866 amendment restricting living portraits applied only to paper money, not coins.

George Washington declined to have his image on US money, saying it would be too much like a monarchy putting its rulers on money. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 authorizes the creation of coins with designs emblematic of the United States to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 prohibits portraits of living people on the reverse side of the coins, though the Trump portrait appears on the obverse.

Timeline

The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 prohibits portraits of living people on the reverse side of the coins. 250,000 of the coins were struck on July 4 at the Philadelphia Mint and feature a special "July 4th" privy mark. The U.S. Mint announced today that $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's likeness have entered circulation and are for sale starting, Sept. 2, 2026.

What's New

The U.S. Mint began selling gold-colored $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's likeness at noon ET on Wednesday, with prices ranging from about $1.55 to $2.44 per coin.

The coin’s design — Trump’s visage as 'heads' and the Great Seal of the United States as 'tails' — was given the stamp of approval this year by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members Trump appointed. One side of the coin features a portrait of Donald Trump with the inscriptions "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST".