US: Trump image approved for commemorative gold coin

What's gold, round and bears US President Donald Trump's image? A commemorative coin marking the United States' 250th anniversary, of course.

A Trump-appointed federal arts commission has approved the design of a 24-carat gold commemorative coin bearing his image, officials said on Thursday.

More coins in Trump's likeness planned

The US Commission of Fine Arts, whose all six members were fired last October and replaced with hand-picked people by Trump, approved the design unanimously.

Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now expected to order the coin to be minted.

The coin will not circulate as currency, and likely be part of a limited collector series.

Two other coins bearing the US president's image are planned, including a $1 piece that would be in circulation and a one-ounce gold one.

Only 'monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins'

Since returning to power in January 2025, Trump has launched a series of efforts to leave his mark on US culture and history. He has renamed the Kennedy Center for the arts in Washington after himself and approved the construction of a controversial ballroom at the White House.

The latest move has drawn criticism from Democrats and some advisory officials.

A separate bipartisan federal panel had refused to consider the gold coin proposal last month.

Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator, told ​Reuters in a statement, that only "monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins, not leaders of a democracy."

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko