The United States began issuing a one-dollar coin featuring the face of President Donald Trump, created as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the country's independence and designated as legal tender.
The coin went on sale this Wednesday through the United States Mint (U.S. Mint), according to reported by the Associated Press (AP).
The design features a portrait of Trump on one side and the Great Seal of the United States on the other.
On the obverse, the leader is shown accompanied by the inscriptions «LIBERTY», «IN GOD WE TRUST», and «1776 ~ 2026».
The reverse side displays the Presidential Seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, along with the phrases "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "ONE DOLLAR", and "E PLURIBUS UNUM".
The shield also incorporates the number «250» as a reference to the Semiquincentennial of the United States, according to the official description published by the U.S. Mint.
Although it has a golden appearance, the coin is not made of gold.
The Mint states that it is primarily composed of copper, along with zinc, manganese, and nickel. It weighs 8.10 grams, measures 26.49 millimeters in diameter, and was minted in Philadelphia.
A roll of 25 coins costs 61 dollars, while a bag of 100 units is sold for 154.50 dollars.
There is also a special variant. The U.S. Mint minted 250,000 coins on July 4th with a commemorative mark "July 4th".
Those pieces were placed randomly inside some of the rolls and bags offered for sale.
The design had previously received approval from the United States Commission on Fine Arts, whose current members were appointed by Trump.
The president himself had previously described the idea of placing his face on a coin as "very unusual," although he said he felt "honored" by the initiative.
The currency has also sparked controversy because federal legislation contains restrictions on the depiction of a living president on U.S. currency.
AP noted, however, that there are circumstances in which the Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to approve the minting and issuance of special coins.
The piece is part of a special program in 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the United States, which features unique designs this year for coins such as the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and the dollar.
The appearance of Trump's face on the coin adds to a series of initiatives that during his second term have placed his name or image on programs, documents, and American installations.
In April, for instance, the United States introduced a limited edition of commemorative passports featuring Trump’s image on the interior cover and his signature in gold lettering, also to commemorate the 250th anniversary of independence.
There is also the so-called Trump Gold Card, a program aimed at wealthy foreigners that allows access to permanent residency through a contribution of one million dollars, in addition to a processing fee.
By the end of April, only one person had been approved under that program, according to data presented at that time to Congress.
Another tribute took place in Florida. On July 9th, Palm Beach International Airport was officially renamed as Donald J. Trump International Airport, becoming the first airport in the country to bear the name of a sitting president.
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