ABOUT TRUMP’S EFFORT TO GET HIS FACE ON MONEY: WHAT HE CAN AND CAN’T LEGALLY DO
by Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. – giving you the facts and truth about this administration and the law, in plain English
The buzz about Trump putting his face – apparently *from his mugshot* – on United States paper currency has ratcheted up again. That’s because it was recently reported in the media that the Treasury department is in the process of designing the new $250 bill with his mug on it. In fact they have debuted a design concept (see attached image).
Wait, did I say $250 bill?
Why yes I did. Because it’s supposed to be to commemorate our 250th anniversary. Allegedly.
So before I get into the legalities, let me observe a few things about that denomination:
1. There currently *is* no $250 bill in our currency; and
2. This is clearly a novelty, commemorative piece; and
3. Like many novelty currencies that are issued, most people who get this $250 bill will keep it as a collector’s item, not use it to pay for their double mocha soy frappalatte with extra whip; and finally
4. $250?!?! This is clearly aimed at people with waaaay too much money on their hands, not at the average working stiff, although it is a nice touch to have it be the same amount as it costs many an average person to fill their tank these days (ok a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much).
So, here’s the legal deal:
The Federal law governing the printing of U.S. monies is 31 USC 5114. §5114 says *very* clearly that “Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.”
That is Federal law and it is indeed very clear.
The only way that paper money can be printed with the image of someone who is alive is with an act of Congress to amend the law. And that is exactly why Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) has bass-kissed..er..I mean introduced such a bill, the Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act. That bill (included in its entirety for Notes from the Front members) basically purports to amend and *modify* existing Federal law, namely §5114, to allow for exceptions to the “must be dead” rule if the person is a president of the United States. It *also* includes an amendment to the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 418) ordering the Secretary of the Treasury to print $250 bills and further that they must include Trump’s visage.
Now, there is absolutely *no* precedent for this, least that I could find. However there *is* precedent for having a living person appear on a commemorative *coin*. In fact most recently Buzz Aldrin appeared on a commemorative coin just seven years ago (in 2019). In our entire history there have been a total of six people who appeared on coins while they were still alive. In addition to Buzz Altrin they are Thomas Kilby (1921), Calvin Coolidge (1926), Carter Glass (1936), Joseph Robinson (1936) and Eunice Shriver (1995).
Fun fact: Up until 1866 there was no law regarding whether someone living could appear on U.S. paper money. That’s when a Treasury Department employee named Spencer Clark decided to put *himself* on the 5-cent note, sparking outrage, and the new law, which originally read “Hereafter no portrait or likeness of any living person shall be engraved or placed upon any of the bonds, securities, notes, or postal currency of the United States.”
Anyways, while it would require only a simple majority in both the House and the Senate to pass Wilson’s bill, I really doubt it will happen. As cracks continue to develop in the Republican block*, getting even a simple majority on such a controversial measure seems unlikely. (*And it’s a beautiful thing.)
P.S. The image here is from the *actual* design which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is showing off – those are his fingers. I think the caption (also provided by Bessent) says it all. Bass-kis.. er.. brown-nos ..er.. ego-stroke much, Scott?
Notes from the Front members: The bill introduced by Rep. Wilson is in your inbox now.
If you’re not a Notes from the Front member, for just $5 a month you can stop relying on this platform’s algorithms to show you my posts because you will get them directly in your inbox along with the documents! *And* you’ll be helping keep me in coffee so that I can continue researching and reporting for you! :~) Join here now:
https://annepmitchell.substack.com/p/about-trumps-effort-to-get-his-face
Don’t have the $5? You can also ensure that you never miss an update by getting them directly in your inbox for *free* (yes really) by signing up for my Notes from the Front Lite – it’s like Notes from the Front but without the documents and coffee. You can sign up for that here (it really is completely free, no ads, no spam, just also no documents or private chats): https://notesfromthefront.fyi
New by popular demand: Many of you have asked how you can support my work without subscribing to my $5 Substack (thank you for asking! ❤️), here’s how: https://www.annepmitchell.com/buy-anne-a-coffee/
P.S. If you actually read all the way to the bottom please leave a comment that includes one of the names of the 6 people who have appeared on a coin while living: Buzz Altrin, Thomas Kilby, Calvin Coolidge, Carter Glass, Joseph Robinson, or Eunice Shriver. It will show me that my efforts aren’t in vain and that people actually *do* read these things, and it will drive those who just skim crazy wondering why everyone is talking about these people!
Source