The $1 Trump coin: legal tender, depending on what you mean by legal

Various laws and 250 years of tradition prevent the likeness of living people from appearing on currency. Donald Trump and Scott Bessent don’t want you to worry about that This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday Two hallmarks of Donald Trump’s second-term: the president’s enthusiasm for putting his name and face on things, and his cavalier approach to established law. Today the president is once again combining both those interests, as the government releases a $1 coin bearing his image, an item of currency which scholars say should be illegal, but which is happening anyway. How many times have you heard that in the last 18 months? Continue reading...

Adam Gabbatt · Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 9:50 AM
US news | The Guardian

The $1 Trump coin: legal tender, depending on what you mean by legal

Various laws and 250 years of tradition prevent the likeness of living people from appearing on currency. Donald Trump and Scott Bessent don’t want you to worry about that

This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday

Two hallmarks of Donald Trump’s second-term: the president’s enthusiasm for putting his name and face on things, and his cavalier approach to established law.

Today the president is once again combining both those interests, as the government releases a $1 coin bearing his image, an item of currency which scholars say should be illegal, but which is happening anyway. How many times have you heard that in the last 18 months?

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