On Friday, October 3, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department released a draft design for a $1 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The coin features former President Donald Trump, sparking both public attention and legal debate.
Images shared by U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach on X reveal the coin’s obverse side displaying a profile of Trump with the words “Liberty” and “1776–2026.” The reverse shows him raising a clenched fist in front of an American flag, accompanied by the phrase “fight, fight, fight”—a reference to remarks he made after surviving an assassination attempt in 2024.
While the final design has yet to be approved, a Treasury spokesperson stated the draft “reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles.”
However, the proposal has raised legal questions. A 2020 bipartisan law authorizing commemorative $1 coins for the semiquincentennial explicitly bars “a head and shoulders portrait or bust” and “a portrait of a living person” on the reverse. Additionally, an 1866 statute generally bans living persons from appearing on U.S. currency—though it primarily addresses paper money. Legal analysts suggest the reverse side’s full-body depiction may be an attempt to navigate around these restrictions. Another statute prohibiting depictions of living presidents on presidential dollar coins may apply only to that specific series.
When asked whether President Trump had seen the design, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “I’m not sure if he’s seen it, but I’m sure he’ll love it.”
Further details about the final design remain on hold, pending the resolution of the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to Treasurer Beach.
