The U.S. Treasury has proposed draft designs for a commemorative $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump’s likeness, planned for issuance in 2026 to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary— semiquincentennial of independence.
Reports from across outlets like CNN, CNBC, NBC News, Fox Business, USA Today, Politico, and Reuters indicate the Treasury released initial drafts showing Trump’s profile on the obverse side, with inscriptions like “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “1776-2026.”
The reverse side depicts Trump raising his fist referencing the July 2024 assassination attempt photo, with “Fight, Fight, Fight” inscribed.U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the drafts as real on X, and Treasury spokespeople described them as reflecting “the enduring spirit of our country and democracy.”
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The authority stems from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 signed by Trump in his first term, allowing special $1 coin designs in 2026 emblematic of the anniversary. The proposal is controversial, as U.S. tradition and laws like restrictions on portraying living persons on currency to avoid monarchical appearances typically prohibit living presidents on coins.
Some reports note potential legal hurdles, and Democrats such as Sens. Jeff Merkley and Catherine Cortez Masto introduced bills to block it. As of late 2025, later U.S. Mint updates show candidate designs with Trump’s face on the obverse but an eagle on the reverse—no final design has been approved or minted yet.
This is a real proposal under consideration, not a hoax, though earlier private “Trump coins” or novelty items have been scams unrelated to official currency. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-330, H.R. 1923) is a bipartisan U.S. law signed by President Donald Trump on January 13, 2021.
It amends Title 31 of the United States Code to authorize the U.S. Department of the Treasury via the U.S. Mint to redesign and issue new circulating collectible coins from 2022 through 2030. The primary goals are to honor prominent American women, youth sports, and the nation’s semiquincentennial.
The Act establishes several coin redesign programs: American Women Quarters Program. Up to five quarter-dollar coins issued each year, with reverse designs honoring prominent American women from diverse backgrounds. The obverse retains George Washington’s likeness modified for distinction.
Youth Sports Program: Reverse designs emblematic of sports played by American youth up to five per year.
Half-dollar coins: Reverse designs emblematic of Paralympic or adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities one new design per year.
Semiquincentennial: One-year redesign of multiple circulating denominations emblematic of the U.S. semiquincentennial: Up to five different designs one must highlight women’s contributions to the nation’s founding or history. Other denominations like cent, nickel, dime, half-dollar: Redesigned obverse and/or reverse.
$1 Dollar Coin: Specifically authorizes the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins in addition to ongoing Native American and American Innovation $1 series with designs emblematic of the semiquincentennial during the one-year period starting January 1, 2026. All 2026 coins bear a dual date (1776–2026).
Silver Bullion Coins: Authorizes duplicate silver bullion versions including 5-ounce and fractional sizes of the redesigned quarters and half-dollars. Medals and marketing allows accompanying medals for sports-themed coins with surcharges and promotional programs to encourage collecting.
Designs must consult the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and Commission of Fine Arts. For certain coins including those under the youth sports and semiquincentennial programs, the reverse cannot include a head-and-shoulders portrait or bust of any person— living or dead or a portrait of a living person.
After 2026, most coins revert to prior designs except quarters and half-dollars continuing youth sports themes. This Act provides the legal basis for special 2026 $1 coins celebrating the 250th anniversary, which has led to proposals including controversial drafts featuring living figures.
However, traditional U.S. policy and separate laws generally prohibit portraying living persons on currency, and the Act’s reverse portrait restrictions apply to specified designs. The U.S. Mint has begun implementing programs like the American Women Quarters and recently unveiled 2026 semiquincentennial designs focused on themes of liberty without individual portraits in contested ways.