A 24-karat gold coin depicting President Trump is planned to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, sparking debate over its appropriateness.
Trump to Appear on Gold Coin
A 24-karat gold coin featuring President Trump is slated for production to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The coin’s denomination and size remain unknown, as does the number of units to be minted.
The coin will depict Trump seated at a desk, with a stern expression, gazing forward. The project received unanimous approval from a commission whose members were appointed by Trump earlier this year; the president has also approved the design.
“Only Monarchs and Dictators”
Critics, including Democrats and members of another art commission, argue the project is inconsistent with American values. The legal precedent, according to the Associated Press, prohibits the likeness of a living president on circulating currency, but not on commemorative coins.
Opposition to the Coin Design
Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, stated that “monarchs and dictators” place their faces on coins, not leaders of democracies. The administration also proposed a separate one-dollar coin featuring Trump to commemorate the 1776 Declaration of Independence.
Previous Design Proposal: “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT”
According to Politico, a 2020 Congressional decision allows the Secretary of the Treasury to mint one-dollar coins in 2026. An initial design for the coin featured Trump’s profile on one side and his image with a clenched fist against the U.S. flag, accompanied by the phrase “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.”