A Gold Coin Featuring Trump Revives Questions About US Norms

A federal arts panel has approved the design of a commemorative gold coin featuring US President Donald Trump, part of a broader series planned to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The proposed coin would be made of 24-carat gold and issued as a non-circulating collector item rather than standard currency.

The design is based on an official portrait displayed at the National Portrait Gallery and depicts Trump alone on the coin. Final decisions on the coin’s size, specifications and production timeline will be made by the US Mint, with further authorization expected from the Treasury Department before minting begins.

The proposal has drawn attention because it features a sitting US president, a practice that is uncommon in modern US coinage. US law generally restricts the depiction of living individuals on circulating currency, though commemorative coins operate under different rules.

A historical precedent exists: in 1926, then-President Calvin Coolidge appeared on a commemorative coin marking the 150th anniversary of American independence. However, that design also included an image of George Washington.