United States President Donald Trump’s face has officially found its way onto the country’s currency.
On Tuesday at 12pm Eastern Time (16:00 GMT), the US Mint began circulating – and selling – a “once-in-a-generation” $1 coin bearing Trump’s likeness to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
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The gold-coloured coins feature Trump’s portrait on one side, alongside inscriptions of “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. On the reverse is an illustration of the US presidential seal with “250” inscribed on its shield.
The US Mint says the coins “capture the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary”.
It’s the first time in nearly 100 years that a living person has been featured on US currency, drawing a heavy dose of criticism, since such honours are largely reserved for long-dead dignitaries.
How did this $1 coin come to be? Here’s what you need to know:
Why is this being done?
Since Trump returned to the White House last year, the administration has taken steps to put his name or image on an array of buildings and items, including the Kennedy Center, the US Institute of Peace, National Parks passes, a limited-edition passport and a $1m “gold card” visa that was announced last year.
The Trump administration has tied some of those efforts to celebrations of the country’s semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 15, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent first announced the coin in a post on social media. Bessent said the coin “celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all”.
The Trump administration has also pointed to another anniversary coin as a precedent for the Trump-branded $1 piece.
In 1926, for the 150th anniversary of the country, the US Mint struck a coin featuring side-by-side portraits of George Washington and Calvin Coolidge, a president who was in office at the time.
But critics have pointed out that the 1926 coin was commemorative and not intended for circulation as currency.
Are there other proposals for Trump-themed currency?
In May, Bessent also said preparations were under way to print a new $250 banknote featuring Trump’s face.
Bessent added that the Trump administration was seeking congressional approval for the new bill.
How much are the new coins?
Despite the coin being valued at $1, consumers can purchase a 25-coin roll for $61 or a 100-coin bag for $154.50 — a significant mark-up.
While the coins are being sold at a premium, the US Mint emphasises they are not solely decorative.
They are valid currency and can be used to make everyday purchases, just like a $1 bill.
Is it legal?
US federal law states: “Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.”
Congress passed that law in 1866 after a Department of the Treasury official, Spencer M Clark, put his own face on a note valued at five cents, angering lawmakers.
However, during his first term, Trump signed legislation known as the Circulating Collection Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (CCRA), which gave the Treasury the authority to mint $1 coins “with designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial”.
That law prohibits the portrait of “any person, living or dead” on the reverse side of those coins. However, Trump’s image on the new $1 coin appears on the obverse — the front of the coin — meaning it likely complies with the law.
What opposition does this face?
Late last year, Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced legislation that would block Trump from placing his face on the coin.
“While monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king,” Cortez Masto said. “Our legislation would codify this country’s long-standing tradition of not putting living Presidents on American coins. Congress must pass it without delay.” Their bill did not become law.
The Treasury Department and US Mint did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
The Autry’s current exhibition,“Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles” is an excellent show that takes a deep regional dive pegged to its 250th American anniversary programming. Of all the pieces, See Lee’s meticulously stitched “Hmong Story Cloth” (circa 1980) is a poignant chronicle of making the journey to an unknown future in the United States. Utilizing the traditional paj ntaub embroidery format, the textile documents Lee’s family fleeing war-torn Laos and resettling in Long Beach during the 1970s. The narrative unfolds in sequential sections depicting military violence at a chaotic crossing of the Mekong River; lower panels remember Thai refugee camps, a rescue airplane and a Greyhound bus. This visual testimony shares striking cross-currents with Latin American arpilleras and paños Chicanos, linking disparate diasporic traditions through the shared language of quietly political, deeply personal needlework — in this case, preserving a crucial chapter of Southeast Asian migration to Southern California.
Madonna has landed a host of A-listers to feature in cameos on her new music filmCredit: YouTubeKate Moss in the 13-minute Confessions IICredit: YouTube
The film features six songs from her upcoming album.
During the one unreleased track, Danceteria, the singer slinks through a bathroom where Chelsea football aces Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are at the urinal, while Richard E. Grant, Gwendoline Christie, Shygirl, Kate and Benedict rave in the toilet disco.
Sabrina Carpenter, who teamed up with Madge on the record’s lead single, the recently released Bring Your Love, also has a starring role.
The superstar’s daughter, Lourdes Leon, is in there too.
Other new tracks in the film are I Feel So Free, Good For The Soul, One Step Away and Read My Lips.
I first told in March how the superstar had enlisted her showbiz pals to be part of a four-day shoot at a West London studio for the video — and now she has proved it was worth the wait.
Her Confessions II collection is set to be released on July 3 — 21 years after her original Confessions On A Dancefloor album came out.
Madonna and Benedict Cumberbatch rave in the toilet discoCredit: YouTubeSabrina Carpenter, who teamed up with Madge on the record’s lead single, the recently released Bring Your Love, also has a starring roleCredit: YouTubeFootballers Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are in the videoCredit: YouTubeCole and Joao at the urinalsCredit: YouTube
I revealed at the weekend that she is now eyeing up plans for potential concerts to celebrate the record’s release — but you are unlikely to see her follow in other stars’ footsteps with a Las Vegas residency.
Name-checking a state-of-the-art 20,000-capacity arena in Paradise,
Nevada, she said, during a Q&A: “Sphere seems cool, but I don’t want to wake up and look at Vegas every day.”
And she’s ready for fans to ditch their phones at any future gigs. She added: “Put your phones down, go out, and connect with people.
Gwendoline Christie taking a peak in the toiletsCredit: YouTubeJulia Garner, who was cast as Madonna in a yet-to-be-filmed biopic, appears in a scene where Madge flies over the crowdCredit: YouTubeRichard E. Grant makes an appearanceCredit: YouTubeThe superstar’s daughter, Lourdes Leon, is in there tooCredit: YouTube
ABBA have hatched a scheme to take Mamma Mia! The Party to Manchester after it proved a hit in Stockholm and London.
Plans for a new entertainment venue next to the city’s Etihad Stadium have been recommended for approval by council planners.
The three-storey venue, set to be built beside Man City’s new North Stand and close to the Co-op Live, would offer a theatrical dining experience for up to 600 guests.
City have teamed up with entertainment giant Pophouse – founded by Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus – for the project, with bosses saying the city’s rich music heritage made it the perfect home for the production.
Pophouse chief executive Jessica Koravos said: “Manchester is known for its innovation in music and entertainment and we cannot think of anywhere better to bring one of the world’s most popular and ground breaking theatrical productions.”
TRAITOR STEPHEN’S MUSICAL
Stephen Libby has penned a musical that he hopes to bring to the West End in the not-too-distant futureCredit: Getty
TRAITORS winner Stephen Libby fancies himself as the next Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I can reveal the Scottish fashionista has penned a musical that he hopes to bring to the West End in the not-too-distant future.
A source said: “Stephen has the musical all written and ready to go.
“He has always dreamed of his work making it to the West End.
“With The Traitors opening so many doors – both financially and in terms of connections – he feels like the time could be now.
“He’s been having various meetings and things are looking promising.”
Stephen and fellow Traitors winner Rachel Duffy split the hit BBC show’s £95,750 prize money earlier this year.
Since then he has been a regular on the showbiz circuit in London and even landed an ad hoc hosting job on ITV’s This Morning.
The Irish singer released Dinner Party on Friday and it is currently in the lead to top the charts, after Sir Paul McCartney claimed pole position last week with The Boys Of Dungeon Lane.
ACE THEO TACKLES TOXICITY
Theo Walcott is getting into the World Cup spirit despite hanging up his footie bootsCredit: PA
FORMER England ace Theo Walcott is getting into the World Cup spirit despite hanging up his footie boots.
The Arsenal legend has teamed up with EE to front its new Yes Boys campaign.
The initiative aims to shine a light on the negative online influences shaping boys’ attitudes both on and off the pitch.
It comes as new data reveals 42 per cent of boys aged 11 to 16 encounter outdated phrases like “men shouldn’t show emotion” and “boys need to toughen up” every week.
Progress has been made over the years, but clearly there is still a long way to go.
DOLLS ASH: MY DANCE TRAUMA
Ashley Roberts has admitted she was so burned out when the group split in 2010 that even seeing people dance would make her cryCredit: Instagram
PUSSYCAT DOLLS star Ashley Roberts has admitted she was so burned out when the group split in 2010 that even seeing people dance would make her cry.
The girls were known for their intense, choreographed routines but Ashley couldn’t bear to bust any moves after the break-up because of the trauma wrapped up in the group’s original run.
She said: “It was absolutely heartbreaking. I couldn’t even actually watch dancing because I would just be bursting into tears.
“When it first became my job, I was like, ‘Well, this is epic’.
“But then it got wrapped up in this bubble of a major pop group that was a global success.
“I got a bit on the other side and I was like, ‘Well, who am I actually outside of this, right?’
“I just felt very lost, very disconnected to the one thing that actually made me feel like it was like the essence of life to me.
“I just didn’t really recognise myself.
“And it was a really, really tough time.”
Thankfully Ashley has since healed herself, as well as her relationship with performing, and has reunited with Nicole Scherzinger and Kimberly Wyatt for a tour here this autumn.
On how she feels to be back, she told Fearne Cotton on her Happy Place podcast: “Everybody’s like, ‘No, you’re in shape – you got this’.
“I’m like, ‘No, this is a whole other beast’.
“It’s like running a marathon in heels.
“We’re like, ‘Screw it’. You never know when we’re going to be able to do this again.
“We’ve got to just do it – we’ve got to say yes and just go for it.”
SAM SMITH mixed business with glamour by pairing a shirt and tie with an eye-catching gold corset.
The Stay With Me singer’s snap has been released for the first time as part of a book called The Elegance Of Time, celebrating the 60th edition of Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival.
Sam played at the event – held annually near Lake Geneva – in 2023, and this photo, along with 150 other intimate portraits of artists including Raye, Lionel Richie, Benson Boone and Pulp, will be included in the book, which is out tomorrow.
BBC bosses splashed out on therapy for UK Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer after he came last in the contest and was ridiculed online.
The performer, whose real name is Sam Battle, said the fallout from his quirky entry Eins, Zwei, Drei is ongoing, so he is still seeing a counsellor.
Sam told The Euro Trip podcast: “There was some sort of therapy stuff. The BBC got me a therapist, which is amazing.
“I’ve never really had one before. They were very accommodating. In fact, I’ve still got the therapist because obviously the fallout is another thing. They don’t just leave you.”
Now Sam reckons the only way forward for the UK at Eurovision is to send a hard rock band.
He said: “We went for ‘very good sensible pop songs’ and then for something ‘a little bit left field’. Still didn’t quite work.
