Trump Coin Lawsuit Dismissed, Legal Questions on Living Persons on Currency Remain
A federal lawsuit challenging the production of a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump's portrait has been voluntarily dismissed in Oregon. The gold-plated coin, minted to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary, is scheduled for release in fall 2026. Plaintiff James Rickher, a retired lawyer, argued the coin violates the 1866 Thayer Amendment, which prohibits living persons on U.S. currency. However, the Treasury Department countered that the prohibition applies only to paper currency and that the coin's design places Trump's portrait on the heads side, not the reverse, which is restricted by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut denied a preliminary injunction due to Rickher's lack of standing, leaving the core legal questions unresolved. The case highlights ongoing debates over statutory interpretation and the potential for future challenges once the coin is distributed.
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