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The U.S. Mint is moving forward with a commemorative gold coin featuring President Donald Trump after a federal arts commission approved a design Thursday, with Treasury Department officials citing a legal authority that allows the inclusion of a sitting president despite longstanding restrictions.
The move is notable because federal law traditionally prohibits living individuals from appearing on U.S. currency, but Treasury Department officials say a separate legal authority would allow the minting of gold coins that could feature the sitting president, which would mark a potential break with longstanding precedent.
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A Semiquincentennial gold commemorative coin design featuring U.S. President Donald Trump, in this undated handout image. The black and white sketch shows what one side of the coin is expected to look like. (US Currency/Handout via REUTERS/Reuters)
Beach added that the proposed commemorative gold coin would be separate from circulating currency and would be under the discretion of the Minister of Finance.
“The Secretary has exclusive authority over the final draft selection,” the statement said, noting that the process followed review opportunities offered to advisory bodies.
The move would be a rare example of a sitting U.S. president appearing on a government-issued coin.
Treasury Department officials pointed to a provision under federal law, 31 USC § 5112, that allows the Secretary to approve bullion and proof gold coins with specifications, designs and inscriptions determined in his sole discretion.
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People view the portrait of US President Donald Trump taken by official White House photographer Daniel Torok, which is the basis for a proposed design of a US Mint semicentennial commemorative coin, on display at the Smithsonian National Port (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
The authority allows coins to be issued “in accordance with such designs… and inscriptions as the Secretary… may from time to time prescribe,” according to the statute cited by Treasury Department officials.
The Treasury statement also noted that the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) declined to review the proposed designs, while the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) “has thus far taken every opportunity to review them.”
Officials said the Mint met its legal obligation to seek input from the CCAC, despite the panel choosing not to comment on the designs.
The approved design shows Trump in a suit and tie with a stern expression, leaning forward with his hands resting on a desk in a power pose, according to materials presented to the committee.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The coin features the text ‘LIBERTY’ at the top and the years ‘1776–2026’, marking the country’s half-centenary.
The reverse is expected to depict a bald eagle in flight, alongside traditional inscriptions such as “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
The Associated Press first reported this that the Fine Arts Commission approved the design without objection at its March meeting on Thursday.
This effort represents a departure from traditional practice, as U.S. currency has historically avoided depicting living individuals, although commemorative and bullion coins operate under different rules.
Officials said the coin will be part of a limited production run, with final details on size and denomination still pending.
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The coin is linked to the celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026, with Treasury Department officials framing the effort as part of a broader initiative to mark the milestone.
