The US Mint is producing a $1 coin bearing Trump’s face to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Mint has begun production of a new $1 coin bearing the face of President Donald Trump to help commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, the Treasury Department said Wednesday.

The final design for the commemorative coin, which will be released in the fall, was approved earlier this year by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump. But the final product unveiled on Wednesday differs from that version in some aspects, including that it is not made of gold but rather has a gold plating.

Read more: A Trump commemorative gold coin has been approved by the US Mint for production to mark America’s 250th anniversary

The coin is intended to “honor the enduring legacy of freedom and an enduring symbol of patriotism,” Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said in a post on X. He added: “It showcases President Trump, and it celebrates the power of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all.”

The president told Fox Business on Wednesday that the move to put his face on a coin was “very unusual, but I was honored,” adding that it was “very nice that they gave me a coin.”

Trump, a Republican, is leaning toward putting his name and likeness in the historical record, having renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and a new class of battleships, among other honors. The move to put his face on the gold coin has drawn criticism in particular because federal law prohibits the depiction of a living president on US currency, although the Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to permit the minting and issuance of coins in some circumstances.

The front of the coin shows an image of Trump wearing a suit and tie with a stern look on his face. The lettering on the top half of the coin’s arc says “LIBERTY,” with the dates 1776-2026 on the bottom half of the arc. The words “In God we trust” are in the middle.

The reverse depicts the traditional image of the bald eagle in the Great Seal of the United States, with the phrase “United States of America” ​​in the upper half of the coin and the Latin phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” meaning “Out of Many, One,” on the shield emblazoned on the bird’s breast.

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Another difference from the design approved earlier this year is that Trump does not place his fists on top of what is supposed to be a desk as he leans forward. The Treasury Department did not specify on Wednesday why the final product differed from the originally approved design.

The Treasury Department announced in March that it would place Trump’s signature on all new US banknotes.

Traditionally, US paper currency bears the signatures of the Secretary of the Treasury and Treasurer, not the President.

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.