The U.S. Mint can move forward with producing a commemorative gold coin honoring President Donald Trump after a federal arts advisory panel signed off on the design, advancing a controversial proposal tied to the nation’s 250th celebrations.
The Commission of Fine Arts, which reviews the design of federal coins, medals, and monuments, approved the concept, allowing the Mint to proceed with development of the coin, though final authorization still rests with the Treasury Department. The commission comprises Trump appointees and was vetted by him after firing the previous board.
Federal law does not permit the president’s face to be used on currency, but the Office of Design Management at the Mint said the treasury secretary has the authority to approve the minting and distribution of such coins.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to mark the U.S.’ semiquincentennial in 2026, when the country will celebrate 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
The coin will be made in a limited number that has yet to be specified. Commemorative coins often cost a hefty sum, and gold coins from the U.S. Mint can cost several thousand dollars.
New coin designs typically receive approval from the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee in addition to the fine arts commission.
The coinage committee last month declined to consider the new gold coin, but several members said the Trump administration could mint the coin, though doing so could pose legal challenges.
The inclusion of Trump’s image, designed after his portrait displayed at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, on a 24-karat gold coin, has been debated for months.
Draft designs previously circulated by Treasury officials showed Trump’s profile alongside patriotic imagery and references to “1776-2026,” as well as a depiction of him raising his fist following a 2024 assassination attempt. The design approved on Thursday reportedly also received Trump’s seal of approval.
During the discussion on approving the coin, panel members argue the coin would reflect Trump’s role as a sitting president on the anniversary and his influence on contemporary U.S. politics.
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But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from historians, legal experts, and some members of advisory committees, who say it breaks with federal law. Some critics have also raised concerns about politicizing commemorative coin programs, which have historically focused on broadly recognized historical figures or themes rather than active political figures.
Former President Calvin Coolidge had his likeness engraved on a commemorative coin, but his decision also sparked controversy. The coin was to honor the 150th celebration of the United States and also featured an overlay of the founding father George Washington, though most of the coins were later melted due to Coolidge’s image.
