Trump on Coins Accurate Context

The Friday Houston Chronicle column entitled “U.S. Mint produces a $1 coin bearing Trump’s image” by the Associated Press is lacking in important context and information, like many similar columns in various outlets.

The new golden Trump $1 coin will be comprised of 88.5 percent copper, 6 percent zinc, 3.5 percent manganese and 2 percent nickel.  And, despite allegations from many in the media objecting to the legality of the President’s face on the coin, it is not always against federal law to put a living person on a U.S. coin, nor is it unprecedented.

Even though previous laws were occasionally in place for putting living persons on non-circulating legal-tender commemorative coins, in the case of the new President Trump coin celebrating America’s semiquincentennial, a new law was introduced specifically addressing America’s 250th birthday.  That law allows this honor and is codified in U.S. Code 31 §5112, which authorizes the production of a circulating coin with legal tender status.  Again, it is specifically related to America 250 and can only be made in 2026.  The legislation was introduced by California democrat Barbara Lee, D-CA, in H.R. 1923 of the 116th Congress and approved with overwhelming bipartisan support.

As far as precedent is concerned, there have been five previous non-circulating legal-tender commemorative coins issued featuring five prominent living people. The list includes three living male Democrats at the time – Virginia Senator Carter Glass and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Robinson, of Arkansas, in 1936, who were both in office at the time they were featured on a commemorative coin. Additionally, sitting Alabama Governor Thomas Kilby was featured on a commemorative coin in 1921. Using Carter Glass and Joseph Robinson surely ruffled some feathers at the time but Republicans allowed their images to appear. Another political figure was the beloved Democrat Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was alive when she was featured on a Special Olympics World Games commemorative coin in 1995 and even that was controversial. Additionally, only one living Republican has been featured on a commemorative coin; President Calvin Coolidge was on the sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar in 1926. In conclusion, President Trump’s image on a commemorative coin is upsetting to some and liked by others; it makes the score living Democrats, four, Republicans, two, on coins, which is somewhat more bipartisan than the previous 4-1 score and this is much-needed context, don’t you think? 

Known as America’s Gold Expert, First Fidelity Reserve Numismatic Consultant, Mike Fuljenz has won more than 60 prestigious national and regional awards for his consumer education and protection work in rare coins and precious metals. Mike was named the 2021 American Numismatic Association Dealer of the Year. His books, media appearances and newsletters about gold and rare coins have won Best of the Year awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild and the Press Club of Southeast Texas, and he received the NLG’s coveted top honor in 2013, “The Clemy Award.” Mike Fuljenz is a frequent expert guest on local and national business and personal finance programs, such as Fox Business Network and CNBC, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, Los Angeles Times, and other broadcast, print and online news media on precious metals, rare coins, and counterfeit detection. A respected community leader in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, Fuljenz is a Past President of the Diocese of Beaumont Catholic School Board and received the Catholic Charities Humanitarian of the Year Award. He has served with distinction as a consultant to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Postal Service, General Services Administration, The Attorney General of Texas, United States Mint and Royal Canadian Mint, and is on the Boards of Directors of both Crime Stoppers of Beaumont and the influential National Coin and Bullion Association.