Table of Contents
- Why the Trump Coin Is Causing a National Stir
- The 1866 Law vs. the 2020 Loophole
- How the Treasury Is Justifying the Move
- Public and Political Backlash
- A Look at U.S. Coinage Traditions
- Sources
Why the Trump Coin Is Causing a National Stir
In a move that’s reigniting debates over presidential legacy and self-promotion, the U.S. Treasury Department has officially defended its plan to mint a $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump—while he’s still alive and in office. The announcement, made Monday, October 6, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from historians, lawmakers, and the public alike.
For over 150 years, American tradition—and federal law—has held that only deceased individuals may appear on U.S. currency. The new Trump coin appears to shatter that norm, raising questions about precedent, legality, and political symbolism.
The 1866 Law vs. the 2020 Loophole
The controversy centers on two key pieces of legislation:
- 1866 Statute: Prohibits living persons from appearing on U.S. coins or currency to avoid monarchical overtones.
- Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020: Allows commemorative coins to feature living individuals under specific circumstances.
According to the Treasury, the Trump $1 coin falls under the 2020 law because it’s part of a commemorative series celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. That designation, they argue, makes it a “collectible” rather than regular circulating currency—thus exempting it from the 1866 ban.
How the Treasury Is Justifying the Move
In an official post on Monday, the Treasury Department stated: “The inclusion of President Trump on a commemorative $1 coin is fully authorized under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020.”
The coin is not intended for everyday transactions but as a limited-edition collectible honoring “American leadership during the Semiquincentennial.” Initial designs released by the U.S. Treasurer show a profile of Trump alongside patriotic motifs like eagles and stars.
Notably, this isn’t the first time the 2020 law has been used creatively. It previously enabled coins honoring living Medal of Honor recipients and NASA astronauts. But featuring a sitting (or former) president? That’s uncharted territory.
Public and Political Backlash
Critics aren’t buying the legal justification. “This isn’t about commemoration—it’s about ego,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren in a press statement. “We don’t put kings on our money for a reason.”
Historians point out that the 1866 law was enacted precisely to distance the U.S. from European monarchies that plastered royal faces on coins. “Allowing a living president on currency blurs that line dangerously,” said Dr. Lena Cho, a historian at Georgetown University.
Online, the reaction is split. Supporters hail it as a “long-overdue tribute,” while opponents call it “a vanity project wrapped in legal jargon.”
A Look at U.S. Coinage Traditions
Since the 19th century, U.S. coins have featured only deceased figures:
| Coin | Featured Figure | Year First Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cent | Abraham Lincoln | 1909 (44 years after death) |
| Jefferson Nickel | Thomas Jefferson | 1938 (112 years after death) |
| Washington Quarter | George Washington | 1932 (133 years after death) |
| Harriet Tubman $20 Bill (planned) | Harriet Tubman | Not yet issued (died 1913) |
The Trump coin would be the first U.S. legal tender to depict a living person—unless you count the 2020 law’s narrow exceptions for non-circulating collectibles.
