Treasury scraps Biden‑era 250th coin designs
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent canceled Biden‑era U.S. Mint Semiquincentennial quarter designs approved for 2026 after the administration determined they omitted Founding Fathers and emphasized DEI themes, and signaled new patriotic designs will be used instead. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed the shift, Fox News Digital published images of the scrapped coins (covering the Declaration, Constitution, abolition, women’s suffrage and civil rights), and noted former Secretary Janet Yellen had previously signed off on the 2026 concepts.
📌 Key Facts
- U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said the Trump administration will replace the 2026 Semiquincentennial quarter designs with new patriotic designs.
- Fox News Digital obtained images of the scrapped quarters themed around the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, abolition, suffrage, and civil rights; one showed Frederick Douglass.
- Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had approved the 2026 designs before leaving office; the Treasury secretary has final sign‑off on coin designs.
📊 Relevant Data
In 1790, the US population was approximately 80.7% White and 19.3% Black, with the White population primarily of English origin making up over 60% of the total White population.
Historical racial and ethnic demographics of the United States — Wikipedia
In 2023, the US population was 58% non-Hispanic White, 20% Hispanic, 13% Black, 6% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3% other races, reflecting significant demographic diversification since the nation's founding.
Is the US becoming more diverse? — USAFacts
The first woman featured on a United States coin was Queen Isabella of Spain in 1893, and the first circulating coin featuring an actual American woman was the Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1979, indicating historical underrepresentation of women on US currency.
The History of Women on Coins — U.S. Mint
Since World War I and before the American Women Quarters program, only Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and Helen Keller have appeared on U.S. coins, highlighting underrepresentation of racial minorities and women in US coinage history.
Representations of Gender and Race on U.S. Currency — EdTech Books
A 2023-2024 Pew Research Center survey found that Americans are deeply divided on DEI initiatives, with opinions split on whether they are a good or bad thing.
Chart: Americans Divided in Their Views of DEI Initiatives — Statista