Federal commission made up of Trump appointees approves design of his commemorative gold coin
CBSN
A federal arts commission on Thursday approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing President Trump's image to help celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4. In:
A federal arts commission on Thursday approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing President Trump's image to help celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4.
The vote by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him earlier this year, was without objection. It clears the way for the U.S. Mint to begin production on the coin, whose size and denomination are still under discussion.
"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," U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement.
The unprecedented move marks yet another example of Mr. Trump and his allies circumventing conventional past presidential practices. It's the latest instance of Mr. Trump putting his name and likeness in the historical archive, following his renaming of the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center performing arts venue and a new class of battleships, among other tributes.
Federal law says no living president can appear on U.S. currency. But Megan Sullivan, the acting chief of the Office of Design Management at the Mint, said the Treasury secretary has authority to authorize the minting and issuance of new 24-karat gold coins, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has used to get around that prohibition and put Mr. Trump on a coin.

Illinois' Democratic primary elections on Tuesday received a lot of attention, and not always for the candidates on the ballot. The primary for the open seat left by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, had served as a test for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's political clout ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.












