An obscure federal panel is reportedly standing in the way of President Donald Trump’s plan to mint commemorative coins for America’s 250th birthday.
As part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration this summer, the Trump administration has proposed two new coins: a one-dollar coin featuring the president in profile and a gold commemorative coin depicting Trump seated at his desk with his fists planted firmly before him. The reverse design for the gold coin reportedly includes a bald eagle perched atop the Liberty Bell.
But before any new coin can be struck, federal law requires review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), a little-known entity established by Congress in 2003 to review themes and designs for circulating and commemorative coins and national medals. The committee then makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury, who has final authority over what designs are approved.
According to The New York Times, the committee is now using its limited procedural powers to delay consideration of the proposed Trump coins. At its most recent monthly meeting, acting chairman Donald Scarinci — a lawyer and Democrat from New Jersey who has served on the panel for more than two decades — removed from the agenda a last-minute addition titled “review and discussion of a Semiquincentennial Gold Coin.” As a result, there was no discussion of the proposed coin.
Scarinci also used the meeting to criticize Trump, describing the Preisdent’s return to office in 2025 as “the darkest year of my 20 years of service” on the committee.
This is not the first time the panel has slowed consideration of a Trump coin. Last November, then-chairman Peter van Alfen removed discussion of the one-dollar Trump coin from the committee’s agenda, saying it had been added too late. A series of back-and-forth communications between the U.S. Mint and the committee reportedly followed, but no formal review took place.
The committee’s 11 members are all appointed by the Treasury Secretary and are intended to represent a cross-section of public and professional perspectives, including American history, numismatics, and medallic art. Four members are recommended by congressional leaders of both parties, three represent the general public, and four must have specialized qualifications.
While the committee is required to review coin designs, the Treasury Secretary ultimately has the final say. Current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously defended the proposal for a one-dollar coin featuring Trump, noting that the 2020 law authorizing semiquincentennial coins contains no explicit prohibition on placing a living person on the obverse of a coin.
The U.S. Mint has also indicated that it believes a majority of the committee made a “conscious decision not to review” the Trump coin portfolio. At a recent meeting, Mint attorney Greg Weinman declined to answer detailed questions about the origin of the proposals but stated that “the Mint has moved forward accordingly.”
With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence approaching, the dispute raises a broader question: will a small advisory panel be able to delay or derail a commemorative effort backed by the President and the Secretary of the Treasury?
One way or another, the final decision rests not with the committee, but with the Treasury itself. While the panel may oppose the coins, the American people elected Trump and the senators who confirmed Bessent. They will have the final say.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
The commemorative coin for America’s 250th birthday year should have no political connections. Stick with Lady Liberty, or the eagle, or the flag, etc. Something everyone can get behind and celebrate. We have more than enough division in the country as it is. Don’t add to it.
Love Trump, but NO to the Trump image: he should stick to non-personal images. The eagle and liberty bell OK, other side some patriotic thing (flag, large 250, etc).
I think a good tradition to follow is not to put the sitting President on our stamps and coins. And before I get a lot of nasty pushback, let me specify that I voted for Trump, and I think he is our best President in decades.
Placing living leaders faces on coins is a British tradition that we can do without.
If this committe is compensated, it would be a good place for DOGE cuts!
A tiny example of a huge problem infecting the federal government. It has far too many employees in far too many committees with far too much power.
Democrats will do anything to diminish Trumps presidency. They cannot stand that he is helping America and Americans.
Scarinci can take a hike along with the rest of the Commie Democrats. Go find your true life maybe in Russia or China or Iran (which is pretty hot these days).
Keep politics off the coin, an eagle and a flag or Lady Liberty are sufficient !
How on earth did you jump to the conclusion that our dark year at the Mint has anything to do with Trump, especially after I publicly thanked Donald Trump for nominating Paul Hollis in the same remarks a few sentences before? Acting Director Kristie McNally was responsible for the darkest year in my 20 years at the Mint. Last I checked, Ms.
McNally is a Democrat appointed by Democrat Mint Director Ventris Gibson. You need to get over your obsession with Donald Trump and check your facts before you write your story.
The purposed coins should include “In God we Trust”, and historical symbols such as the
Liberty Bell and American eagle. I stand with President Trump but this is an opportunity to exercise humility and to recognize that it has taken many people to make this country great.
Just ANOTHER example of some UNELECTED “experts” injecting their biases into public policy! Can Bessent FIRE these idiots?
And here is another opportunity where term limits would do good for the overall public benefit.
TRUMP head coins can be sold PRIVATELY…250 years should have’ mount rushmore’ on it…imo
Of course Dems oppose it. They might be for making a coin featuring George Floyd, the do nothing drug abuser.
I just sent a communication to Scott Bessent to approve the Trump proposed coin and get it minted ASAP, then dismantle the advisory committee.
More evidence of an overinflated government bureaucracy. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
This would not be the first time the current President was on commemorative coinage. In 1926 a sesquicentennial (150 year) of American Independence half dollar featured, in addition to a profile of George Washington, a profile of the then current President, Calvin Coolidge. Personally, I would not be opposed to a dignified image of Donald Trump on 250 year commemorative coinage with other national symbols.
We have other Presidents on our coins, why not President Trump? After all he will be President on the nation’s 250th birthday.
President Trump is who he is, and more Americans voted for him than not. He is kicking the daylights out of the ominous agenda intended and (that to me) is why he’s under constant scrutiny by everyone who thinks even more of themselves than he does. Like the song ‘For What It’s Worth” stated so many years ago “Nobody’s Right If Everybody’s Wrong. At least while this man is in charge, we’ll be able to safely go outside. If he wants a coin, let him have it. Obama took the Lincoln memorial off the pennies and messed with the nickels and never got ‘Our’ permission. Trump’s done as much as any other President with a likeness on one.
Donald Scarinci, a lawyer and democrat. That pretty much sums it up. Maybe this “advisory” committee should be abolished. But then, the secretary of the treasury has the final say. Something doesn’t smell right.
There are too many panel and committees in government that’s why nothing ever gets done!
This corrupt clown has served over 20 years on the board? Time to replace him!
[1] GET RID OF THIS [ANOTHER] BOONDOGGLE COMMITTEE
[2] OPINIONS ON NEED FOR AND COST OF NEW COINS VIA ONLINE POLLS
[3] FINAL CHOICE OF THE CONTENDERS TO BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENT.
~ 07 MARCH 2026
What’s the problem? We had a 1976 commemorative quarter.
Mt Rushmore is a GREAT idea, but could Trump’s head be added???
There are so many twisting bolts going on, with this” LAND of THE FREE” movement, it could get out of control on almost anything, if not already, but the coin will sell fast! for good or bad.
There are alot of eyes on Trump for what he has tried at this time in America.
He is one who has stood up, for keeping America safe again, once his walls were torn down and sold, and other things.
Most aren’t sure how… it could have gotten accomplished, regardless who done it, and so the people are on the Freedom Land move and just blaming only Trump for everything.
It’s not a question of fighting, it’s a situation of confusion, between parties that know what they know, from a long train that’s been coming, down the line, leaving most voters aware, and WHISPER, calling it all “crazy”…… about our own country.
If or when Trump has one of his, bring it all home rallies, for the people, he might admit, he done whatever he could to preserve, what our sacrificed country has paid, for their future families to be entitled, handing over our same glorious pride as,
” Our One U S A Nation, Under Our God.”
Quick! Put Trumps Face on Mt Rushmore! Put that on the Coin, Along with the phrase: Freedom Rings Again! & the Liberty Bell on the other side! With in God we Trust!
Just because he’s not dead yet, doesn’t mean we can’t say thank you for all he’s done & is doing!
And why appease the democrats who are still trying to destroy our great nation & take God out of our country!?!!
Put an image of the D of I on the other side of the Liberty Bell & Eagle. With microprint of the actual words. $10 denomination.
It sounds to me that a group of OLD PEOPLE who have no regard for anything PATRIOTIC or COLLECTABLE just get their jollies over their martinis saying NO!!! Well let the old people do old people things. Those of us who believe in this current president and administration hav e no need for the UNELECTED!!! By the way these are the people who are not PATRIOTS. They are the unelected money changers….you know the ones who manipulate the markets. Anyway MAGA MAGA MAGA
This is the 3rd time I’ve tried to post my comment; the other times it showed “Awaiting Approval” and was deleted. WHY? I have no clue.
IMHO, a silver dollar coin could have an image of our Declaration of Independence on obverse and on reverse an image of POTUS on July 4, 2026. The gold one-ounce coin could have an image of Lady Liberty with a bald eagle settled on her arm with slightly out on the obverse, and the phrase “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” on the reverse.
Both coins would carry the dates 1776-2026 for the 250th Anniversary as well as the normal “In God We Trust”.
Putting Trump’s image on a coin, especially while he is still president, proves the Democrats’ assertion that Trump wants to be king. Monarchs are commonly depicted on current coins.
THERE SHOULD BE A 250th CELEBRATED COIN..FLAGS, MOUNT RUSHMOORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT… WITH IN GOD WE TRUST ON IT WOULD BE GREAT..I WANT D.O.G.E. BACK TO FULL TIME WORKJ FOREVER…I WANT DEMIOCRAPS IN PRISON..I WANT ROGUE JUDGES IN PRISON.. I WANT CORRUPT CRIMINAL LYING DEMOCRAPS STOP SAYING THEY KNOW WHAT AMERICANS WANT..DEMOCRAPS DON’T GIVE A SHIT WHAT AMERICANS WANT. ONLY WANT WHAT DEMOCRAPS WANT..DEMOCRAPS ARE THE CANCER ON AMERICA…WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE EPSTEIN FRONT ??? WELL THEY FOUND OUT MANY DEMOCRAPS/FOLLOWERS WERE IN THE FILES..START WITH HACKEEM JEFFERIES,GEORGE CLOONEY,JOY BEHER,WHOOPIE GOLDBERG,ANA NAVARRO,JAY Z, BONO,HARVEY LEVIN, ELLEN DEGERATE,OPRAH,P DIDDY,CHER,SAVANAH GUTHRIE,WOODY ALLEN,KEVIN SPACEY,CHRIS TUCKER,STEVEN HAWKIN,MICK JAGGER PRINCE ANDREW, BILLY BOY CLINTON. KILLERY CLINTON….
I can see a silver dollar with Trump on it, but not a gold coin. Both coins would have the dates 1776-2026 on them.
To me, the silver should have an image of our Declaration of Independence on the obverse and an image of Trump (as the POTUS at the time of the 250th anniversary) on the reverse.
The second coin (gold) should have Lady Liberty standing with the eagle on her arm on the obverse and “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” on the reverse.
Just MHO.
How can we put pressure on these @$$h0le$ to get these commemorative coins minted? Is this something to reach out to our senators & representatives for? Their actions are bull$hit as far as I’m concerned.
Any federal employee making bias decisions based on their particular political party should be fired for cause. No exceptions. Voicing opinion in front of other federal employees will be considered reason for termination.
David Scarinsi is nothing more than a biased, despicable TDS-suffering radical left-wing, America-LAST Illegals-FIRST DamnoRAT Socialist.
Losers like that should not be allowed on ANY committee in America.
I have an ideal pick a Democrat any Democrat put their face on one side and a hanging rope on the other. Put the word Traitor under his/her face and the words Liberty and Justice for All on the rope side. God bless America!
IMHO perhaps the silver dollar could have an image of the Declaration of Independence on the obverse and the reverse have the image of POTUS at the time of 7-4-2026. The gold ‘dollar’ could have an image of Lady Liberty with the bald eagle settled on her arm with slightly lifted wings on the obverse and “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” on the reverse.
Both coins would have the 1776-2026 dates indicating the 250th anniversary of our Independence.
Why doesn’t the secretary of treasury fire him. He is a demoncrat that will not allow any Republican to be on any coin. Replace him with a Republican. How is it the demoncrats get appointed to head this committees. Where are the republican personnel to install Republicans in the committees