Federal law says living presidents can’t appear on currency, but commission approves design for US’s 250th birthday
A federal arts commission on Thursday approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing Donald Trump’s image to help celebrate the US’s 250th birthday on 4 July.
The vote by the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him earlier this year, was without objection. It clears the way for the US Mint to begin production on the coin, whose size and denomination are still under discussion.
“As we approach our 250th birthday, we are thrilled to prepare coins that represent the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, and there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald J Trump,” the US treasurer, Brandon Beach, said in a statement.
Federal law says no living president can appear on US currency. But Megan Sullivan, the acting chief of the office of design management at the Mint, said the treasury secretary has authority to authorize the minting and issuance of certain coins.
