The U.S. Mint website experienced a surge in traffic, leading to virtual queues and delays, following the release of a new gold-colored $1 coin featuring Donald Trump's image. The coin became available on Wednesday as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
The coin, minted in Philadelphia, displays a portrait of Trump on the front with the inscriptions 'Liberty,' 'In God We Trust,' and '1776 ~ 2026.' Although not intended for general circulation, the coins are legal tender. They are being sold in collector bundles of 25 or 100, priced between $61 and $154, representing a markup of over 50 percent on their face value.
The release marks a symbolic achievement for Trump, whose administration advocated for featuring his likeness on U.S. currency, a departure from the tradition of not depicting living individuals on coins. The coins are primarily made of copper, nickel, and manganese, with no actual gold content.
A law passed by Congress in 2020 permits the Treasury Department to mint special $1 coins for the 250th anniversary, allowing for the depiction of living individuals on the front of the coin. Earlier in the year, a lawsuit attempting to block the production of these coins was dismissed by a federal judge.
Trump is the second sitting president to appear on an American coin, following Calvin Coolidge, who was featured on a half-dollar commemorating the nation's 150th anniversary exactly 100 years prior. An initial design concept considered for the coin's reverse side depicted Trump in response to the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the phrase 'Fight, Fight, Fight.' However, this design was replaced with the presidential seal to avoid potential controversy.
The Philadelphia Mint produced nine million coins in July, its first month of production. Among these, 250,000 coins were minted on July 4 and feature a special privy mark, randomly distributed in rolls and bags sold online.
This coin release follows previous efforts to feature Trump on currency. In May, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed a $250 banknote bearing Trump's portrait and signature, though the authorizing legislation has not yet passed Congress. Trump's signature is also being added to newly printed $100 bills and is expected to appear on other denominations in the future.
