The United States has approved the production of a commemorative gold coin featuring President Donald Trump, despite laws prohibiting the use of living leaders' images on currency, prompting legal and appropriateness controversies.
On 19 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. Art Commission unanimously voted to approve a plan to produce a commemorative gold coin bearing the image of President Donald Trump, amid legal and ethical criticism.
Reports state that the commission, which includes Trump appointees, voted to proceed with producing this commemorative coin. One side will depict an eagle, while the other features Trump leaning on a table, looking forward. Previously, the bipartisan Citizens Coin Advisory Committee had expressed concerns and opposed the idea of featuring Trump on a coin.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley said that only kings or dictators put their own faces on coins, not leaders in democracies.
Although U.S. law prohibits depicting living presidents on circulating currency, this coin might not violate the law because it is a commemorative coin, not legal tender. However, the Trump administration is pushing plans to feature his image on a one-dollar coin, which could directly violate the law.
Source: Aljazeera