A gold-colored $1 coin bearing a portrait of President Donald J. Trump is in production at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia and will be available for purchase in the fall from the Mint. But make no mistake, the coin commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday is not gold. In fact, it contains no precious metal. The coin, made of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel, merely has a gold-like finish.
The coin’s obverse features the president’s portrait with the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776-2026.” The reverse contains the presidential seal of a bald eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, with a shield on its breast containing a “250” inscription, and a banner inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (Latin for “Out of many, one.”)
Separately, the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts has approved a design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Trump, but production of the coin has yet to begin.
Both the $1 coin and the proposed 24-karat coin are embroiled in controversy due to a federal law that bars living persons from being depicted on U.S. currency. The U.S. Treasury, which oversees the Mint, maintains it has authority over commemorative coins, which permits it to use the president’s image on such coins.
Even if the 24-karat coin is eventually produced, it will be only a collectible item. Those who wish to buy U.S. gold coins for investment purposes should purchase either American Gold Eagle or American Gold Buffalo coins. Both are highly liquid and universally respected for their beauty and enduring value.
