WASHINGTON: The US Treasury on Wednesday issued USD 1 coins featuring the face of President Donald Trump, the latest move in an unprecedented campaign by the Republican billionaire to put his personal stamp on national institutions.
The coins were minted to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States celebrated this year.
A roll of 25 USD 1 coins was available for sale for USD 61 — a mark-up of 144 percent — with a 100-coin bag available for USD 154.50.
When the Treasury announced the plan it was unclear if the coins would have monetary value or would be purely commemorative, but on Wednesday the US Mint said the coins were “also in circulation.”
The move to put Trump’s countenance on a coin with monetary value runs counter to federal law that says no living president may appear on US currency.
Trump has aggressively defied precedent and legal challenges in his push to remake US institutions in his second term, putting his name on the Kennedy Center for the Arts and demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom, among other moves.
The new coin features Trump’s face on one side, with the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.” It also features the dates 1776-2026, marking 250 years of US independence.
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