According to the Treasury Department, the coin is already in production at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. The commemorative design features Trump’s portrait on the obverse alongside the inscriptions “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “1776-2026,” while the reverse carries an image of the bald eagle from the presidential seal.

The final design differs from an earlier draft made public in October. That version depicted Trump raising a clenched fist beneath the words “fight, fight, fight,” a reference to the assassination attempt against him during the 2024 presidential campaign. The revised coin omits that imagery.

Trump welcomed the decision, describing it as an honor during an interview with Fox Business.

“They gave me a coin,” Trump said, adding that he understood such recognition to be unusual.

The announcement has drawn scrutiny from critics who question whether featuring a sitting president on a U.S. coin is permitted under federal law.

One point of debate concerns an 1866 law prohibiting the use of a living person’s portrait on U.S. currency. However, that statute applies to paper currency produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing rather than coins manufactured by the U.S. Mint.

Attention has instead focused on legislation approved by Congress in 2020 authorizing the Treasury Department to issue commemorative $1 coins for the nation’s 250th anniversary. According to the source material, that law specifically prohibited coin designs portraying a living person, raising questions about whether the Trump design is consistent with the statute.

Bessent defended the decision in an interview with Fox News broadcast on Tuesday, pointing to historical precedent.

He cited the commemorative coin issued during the 150th anniversary of the United States that featured then-President Calvin Coolidge, arguing that living individuals have appeared on U.S. commemorative coins before.

“So we can put living people’s images on a coin,” Bessent said.

The Treasury Department did not announce any changes to the production schedule despite the legal criticism. It said minting has already begun in Philadelphia as preparations continue for nationwide events commemorating the country’s semiquincentennial in 2026.

The commemorative coin forms part of broader federal initiatives marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. Congress authorized the anniversary coin program in 2020, assigning responsibility for production to the Treasury Department through the U.S. Mint.

The announcement is likely to fuel further debate over the interpretation of federal law governing commemorative coinage, as well as the broader symbolism of placing the portrait of a sitting president on a coin issued during a landmark national anniversary.