The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts unanimously approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump's image to celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4. The commission, whose members are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him earlier this year, cleared the way for the U.S. Mint to begin production.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, composed of Trump appointees, unanimously approved a 24-karat gold coin featuring President Donald Trump's image to celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4.
- Federal arts commission approves final design for Trump commemorative gold coin
- Coin features Trump's image on the front and a bald eagle in midflight on the reverse
- Size, denomination, and production run details still under discussion
- Treasury secretary authorized minting to bypass federal law prohibiting living presidents' images on currency
- Critics denounce initiative as unlawful and inappropriate for a democratic leader
The front of the coin displays an image of Trump in a suit and tie with a stern expression, leaning forward with his fists resting on a desk. The word 'LIBERTY' is inscribed at the top, followed by the dates 1776-2026. The words 'IN GOD WE TRUST' appear at the bottom, flanked by seven stars on one side and six stars on the other. The reverse side depicts a bald eagle in midflight with 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' on the right and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' on the left.
The coin will be part of a very limited production run, but the exact number has not been determined. The size and denomination are also still under discussion, with commissioners noting Trump's preference for large items. The Mint is considering a size larger than its 1-ounce gold coin, which is about 1.3 inches in diameter, possibly up to 3 inches.
Federal law prohibits the depiction of living presidents on U.S. currency. However, Megan Sullivan, acting chief of the Office of Design Management at the Mint, stated that the Treasury secretary has the authority to authorize the minting and issuance of new 24-karat gold coins. This authority is being used to bypass the prohibition and include Trump's image on the coin.
Critics have denounced both initiatives as unlawful and inappropriate for a sitting leader. Senator Jeff Merkley told Reuters, 'Monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins, not leaders of a democracy.' The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a bipartisan federal panel, has previously pushed back against efforts to mint Trump-themed coins.
The coin's design is based on a black-and-white image of Trump taken by photographer Daniel Torok and featured in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Chamberlain Harris, a top White House aide to Trump and commissioner on the arts panel, indicated that the Trump gold coin would be as large as possible, stating, 'I think the larger the better. The largest of that circulation, I think, would be his preference.'
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