Federal arts panel approves commemorative gold coin design with Trump's image
The federal Commission of Fine Arts officially voted Thursday to approve a new 24-karat commemorative gold coin featuring President Donald Trump, amid backlash from Democrats and other stakeholders.
The image included in the proposal is based on a photo taken of Trump in the White House.
The committee, now packed with Trump's allies recently added to the advisory panel, praised the proposal and encouraged the administration to make the coin as large as possible.
A U.S. Mint official who presented to the group said Trump approved the design.
"The larger the better, and the largest of that circulation, I think, would be his preference," said Chamberlain Harris, Trump's 26-year-old executive assistant, who was appointed to the CFA.
"I think the president likes big things," James McCrery II, another commissioner appointed by Trump who served as the first architect on the East Wing Ballroom project, told the group.
Members of another panel, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), established by Congress to review and advise the Treasury secretary, have raised questions about the proposed coin.
Those critics told The Washington Post the administration could try to mint the coin without their approval but that the effort could face legal challenges.
The U.S. Mint did not respond to a message seeking comment on the timetable for the new coin.
In a statement, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said: "As we approach our 250th birthday, we are thrilled to prepare coins that represent the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, and there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald J. Trump."
In the statement, Beach said the U.S. Mint offered CCAC -- the citizens committee --"multiple opportunities" to review the proposed designs but said the committee "expressly declined."
The statement went on to say: "Accordingly, the Mint’s statutory obligation to seek CCAC review has been fulfilled ... Ultimately, the CCAC’s statutory role is only to advise the Secretary, and by statute, Secretary Bessent has sole discretion on final design selection."
Questions remain about laws barring the image of living former or current presidents from appearing on currency, although the Treasury has argued presidents can appear on the front of coins.
"He's presiding over the country," Harris, the fine arts panel member, said during the meeting, speaking in favor of depicting the sitting president to mark the 250th anniversary of the country.
The administration has also proposed a separate Trump-themed $1 coin, but it's not clear when it will enter circulation.
Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, and Catherine Cortez Masto, of Nevada, have introduced a measure to block any living or sitting president from being on U.S. currency, including commemorative coins.
Some of the commemorative coins sell for thousands of dollars.
