Washington: US Treasurer Brandon Beach announced that the Treasury is contemplating the issuance of special one-dollar coins depicting President Donald Trump's image as part of the celebration for the nation's 250th anniversary. The coins would potentially commemorate this historic milestone by featuring Trump's likeness, marking a significant departure from traditional currency designs.

According to Anadolu Agency, Beach shared a draft design on the US social media platform X, which illustrates Trump's face on one side of the coin, with the reverse side depicting a portrait of him raising his fist following the 2024 near-assassination attempt. Beach emphasized the authenticity of these designs, stating, "No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America's 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real."

Beach also mentioned that more information would be forthcoming once the current governmental shutdown concludes. He indicated that the initiative is backed by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, a law signed by Trump towards the end of his first term. This legislation permits the Treasury to issue $1 coins with designs symbolizing the U.S. semiquincentennial for a limited period starting January 2026.

The potential issuance raises questions about existing legal restrictions prohibiting the depiction of a living president on currency. However, historical precedent exists, as Congress made an exception in 1926 for President Calvin Coolidge, who appeared on a special half-dollar coin commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the only instance of a sitting president being featured on a coin while in office.