The draft, which was presented on Thursday. The diameter should be just under 8 centimeters.Image: www.imago-images.de
There will be a special coin for the 250th birthday of the USA. Now the design is ready. It is likely to be huge and is already causing criticism. Finance Minister Scott Bessent now has the final say.
March 20, 2026, 3:19 p.mMarch 20, 2026, 3:19 p.m
A serious-looking Donald Trump, his hands clenched into fists. Above him the word “Freedom” and in the lower part “We trust in God”. This is how the special coin comes about, which is to be minted on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the USA on July 4th, 2026.
It was unveiled Thursday by the U.S. Mint and approved by the Commission on Fine Arts. Now Finance Minister Scott Bessent has to give his blessing so that the 24-carat coin can be minted.
The final details are still missing, such as the size of the coin. Apparently Trump wants it to be as big as possible. The deputy head of the commission – loudly BBC a Trump ally – suggested a diameter of three inches, or 7.62 centimeters. For comparison: a five-franc coin measures 3.145 centimeters in diameter, less than half of Trump’s special coin. How many coins are planned and how much they should be worth has not yet been determined.
Legality disputed
Originally there were definitely concerns. Actually, according to federal law, living presidents are not allowed to be depicted on official US money. However, shortly before Trump’s first term ended, the “Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020” came into force. This allows the Ministry of Finance to mint coins that represent the anniversary for one year from January 1, 2026. Government lawyers have also been looking for loopholes.
And Trump is obviously taking advantage of that. In addition to the special coin, a Trump 1 dollar coin is also planned. According to the New York Times be put into circulation as a means of payment and was already presented in October. It should also be dedicated to the anniversary; the design also shows US President Trump. Loud NBC The 1 dollar coin and the special coin presented on Thursday are two different projects.
No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real.
Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over. https://t.co/c6HChM6ijG
— US Treasurer Brandon Beach (@TreasurerBeach) October 3, 2025
Trump also released his own cryptocoin shortly before his inauguration in January 2025.
Criticism of Trump money
However, there are still disputes with the current coin: a new coin would actually have to be examined by the “Citizens Coinage Advisory”, the coin advisory committee. Otherwise it is illegal, as its chairman Donald Scarinci says according to the New York Times. But the CCA didn’t want to examine the first draft – out of protest. Because imprinting the face on coins is what kings and dictators would do. “Democracies do not put their elected representatives on coins,” says Scarinci.
According to the BBC, Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres also tried in vain last year to pass a law that would ban presidents from launching currency with their own likeness. It was the “Trump Act”, the abbreviation for “The Restrict Ugly Money Portraits”.