Minting errors popping up on some of the new Trump $1 coins could push their value to $100 or more, experts say

Now, the Treasury Department has announced that the Trump-branded coins will be distributed to U.S. banks again this fall. And, in an X post, the Treasury Department said there has already been “strong demand” for the coins.

Yet coin collectors are reporting that some of the Trump coins are inadequately annealed or missing clad layers, according to Coinweek. A missing clad layer means a coin will usually show a copper core on one side and nickel on the other, a rare defect that gins up demand among die-hard coin collectors.

A challenge and a scramble for the Trump coin

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously said in July that the coin was intended “to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism.”

Treasurer Brandon Beach has also been a staunch promoter of the coin.

“I want to challenge you to go get a roll of Trump dollar coins next month,” he said in a video on social media. “And then I want you to go to your favorite liberal coffee shop with your Trump dollar coins, buy a cup of coffee and watch their heads explode. They will not like it, but I love it, and I love this president. I love this coin.”

But the move to make the coin in the first place has generated controversy since federal law states that legal tender in the U.S. cannot feature living presidents. Doing so is banned to avoid generating comparisons to a monarchy.

Now, those controversial coins may even be defective.

Errors in coinage manufactured by the U.S. Mint are very rare. So far, coin collectors are reporting that the Trump coins with the missing clad layer weigh about 6.0 grams compared to the 8.1 grams minted by the Treasury.