US Treasury Plans Controversial Trump $1 Coin for 250th Anniversary

The U.S. Treasury has released draft designs for a $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The coin's front shows Trump's profile with the word "Liberty" and dates "1776-2026," while the reverse depicts Trump raising a fist after surviving an assassination attempt, framed by the words "Fight Fight Fight" and the U.S. flag. These designs, confirmed by Treasurer Brandon Beach, have sparked legal debate since U.S. law prohibits the image of living persons on currency, with experts divided on whether the reverse design violates the ban. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 permits special $1 coins for the semiquincentennial but forbids head-and-shoulders portraits of living or deceased individuals on the reverse, complicating the legality of the Trump coin. While the Treasury defends the design as a tribute to American spirit, critics argue the coin violates established laws and question the timing and motives behind the proposal. The government shutdown has delayed further developments on the design's approval.