New Presidential and First Spouse Coin Act Mandates Commemorative $1 Coins and Bullion Medals

The "Presidential and First Spouse Coin Act of 2025" (Section 1) greenlights the U.S. Mint to produce $1 coins honoring deceased U.S. Presidents, along with bullion coins and bronze medals for their spouses. This isn't just a quick cash grab; it's a structured program with specific rules about who gets a coin and when.

Minting the Past: Rules of the Coin Road

This bill amends Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, adding subsection (bb). What that boils down to is this: within three years after a President's death, the Treasury Secretary must start issuing $1 coins featuring that President, if they haven't been on a $1 coin before. Think of it like a delayed Hall of Fame induction, but with currency.

• For Presidents: The bill lays out the basics – design requirements, inscriptions, etc. – but gives the Treasury Secretary leeway on the finer details like quantity and exact design (Section 2 (bb)).
• For Spouses: During the same timeframe as the Presidential coins, bullion coins (and optional bronze medals) featuring the President's spouse will be issued. These will match other bullion coins in specs and value (Section 2 (bb)). If a President served without a spouse, no corresponding coin is required.
• Multiple Spouses? Multiple Coins: If a President had different spouses during their term, each one gets their own coin (Section 2 (bb)).

Cash or Collectible?

These coins are technically legal tender, meaning you could spend them, but the real target is collectors (Section 2 (bb)). They're officially classified as "numismatic items" – a fancy term for collectibles. So, while you could theoretically buy a coffee with a President Fillmore dollar, it's probably going to end up in a display case instead.

The Treasury's Call

One key thing: the Treasury Secretary gets a lot of say in this. They decide the quantity, the exact design, and even the price of the bronze medals (Section 2 (bb)). This means the look and feel, and ultimately the collectibility, of these items rests largely in their hands.

Real-World Rollout

Imagine a coin collector eagerly awaiting the release of a new Presidential coin, or a historical society using the coins and medals for educational purposes. That's the intended impact. The U.S. Mint also stands to benefit from the sales of these items. However, with the Treasury Secretary having broad authority over design and quantity, there's potential for things to get interesting. Will designs be historically accurate? Will they flood the market or keep them scarce? Those decisions will shape how these coins are received and how they impact the numismatic world.