The President Trump $1 Coin and $250 Note?

There's been a proposal to mint a commemorative dollar coin and engrave a $250 bank note, both with President Trump's likeness upon them, to mark the 250th Anniversary of our Republic.

Naturally this has certain people up in arms as well as being agog and aghast claiming it goes against all precedent.

Newsweek:  Trump Wants His Face on New $250 Bill; an 1866 Law Says It’s Not Allowed

 Newsweek in the article states that it is not allowed due to a law that prohibits living people from appearing on the currency:

The enthusiasm, however, runs directly into a long-standing legal barrier as federal statute prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency. The last time it happened was 1866, and Congress outlawed it immediately afterward. 

 The federal statute enacted in 1866 bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency, a rule created after the government briefly allowed a Treasury official’s portrait on a 5‑cent note. The restriction has remained in place ever since, meaning the Treasury cannot legally produce a $250 bill with Trump’s image unless Congress changes the law. 

Well, that statement is not in fact correct, nor has the restriction has remained in place ever since 1866. 

In honor of the United States Sesquicentennial, in 1926, a Half Dollar was minted with both President Washington and the then President Calvin Coolidge on the coin:  

 

So, yes,  there is precedent for a living seated president to be on money in the year of an important anniversary of our republic. Calvin Coolidge, being a darn good President certainly was worthy of the honor in any case.

However, these days, short of the coin and note being limited runs strictly as commemorative items, it would take legislation passing to have President Trump on a bill or coin in general circulation, and there is proposed legislation at the moment to do so.  

It may be tacky to some, even as the mock-ups of the coin and note do look pretty good.  

It may cause his opponents to go even crazier (which they seem to have no problem doing) -- which could be considered a bug or a feature.  

But, it is not the first time it has been done and it is not unprecedented for a present president to be put upon the currency.