A newly minted $1 coin featuring US President Donald Trump experienced overwhelming demand, nearly selling out within hours of its release on the US Mint website as collectors rushed to secure orders. Released at noon on Wednesday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the coin drove high traffic to the website, forcing numerous users into virtual waiting rooms for over an hour.
The coin was made available in two options: a roll of 25 coins priced at $61 and a bag of 100 coins priced at $154.50. By Wednesday afternoon, the US Mint listed both items as unavailable. Crafted from a manganese-brass alloy composed of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel, the coin possesses a golden appearance despite containing no actual gold. The obverse side displays President Trump’s portrait alongside the inscriptions “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, and the dual dates “1776 ~ 2026”. The reverse side features the Presidential Seal depicting an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, a shield with the number “250” marking the Semiquincentennial, and the text “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR”.
Featuring a living person on US circulating currency is an exceptionally rare occurrence. Historically, the last living US president depicted on a coin was Calvin Coolidge in 1926, featured on a commemorative half-dollar marking the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. To manage the high volume of interest, the US Mint initially capped orders at two items per household. The $1 coins are scheduled for phased nationwide distribution throughout the Semiquincentennial year.