A federal arts commission on Thursday approved a design for a 24-carat gold commemorative coin featuring former President Donald Trump, with one member advocating for a diameter “as large as possible,” up to three inches. The Commission of Fine Arts, a presidential appointment panel, voted to recommend the U.S. Treasury manufacture the coin, depicting Trump seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office on one side and a bald eagle on the other.
Megan Sullivan, acting chief of the Office of Design Management at the U.S. Mint, informed the panel that Trump had personally reviewed and approved the proposed design. James McCrery II, the commission’s vice chair and the initial architect for the Trump White House ballroom project, urged the panel to request the largest possible size for the coin, citing Trump’s preference for grand scale. “In terms of the diameter, I think the President likes big things,” McCrery said, adding, “Generally, I do too.”
The decision follows previous approvals by the commission of Trump-related projects, including plans for a large addition to the White House ballroom, a project that faced opposition from preservationists and the public. In January, the commission too approved the design for a $1 coin bearing Trump’s likeness, with the Treasury confirming plans to proceed with its manufacture. These actions are part of a broader effort by Trump and his supporters to prominently feature his image and name on national symbols and institutions, including the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace.
While the Commission of Fine Arts has approved the design, the ultimate decision on the coin’s production rests with the U.S. Treasury, which is required to consult with both the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). But, the CCAC has previously expressed opposition to placing a sitting president’s image on a commemorative coin. Donald Scarinci, the CCAC’s acting chairman, stated last month, according to The New York Times, that “Only those nations ruled by kings or dictators display the image of their sitting ruler on the coins of the realm.”
Independent journalist Marisa Kabas has reported that video footage of the CCAC meeting where objections were raised was subsequently deleted from the Treasury Department’s records. The commemorative coins are sold by the Treasury as souvenirs and collector’s items, typically for several thousand dollars each.
The move has drawn criticism from coin collectors and Democratic officials, who view the coin as an inappropriate use of national symbols. The U.S. Mint has not yet announced a production date or price for the commemorative coin.
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