LOOSE CHANGE: MARCH 29, 2026

The gold coin depicts Trump leaning over a desk, his fists clenched, pressing against the surface. It displays the word "LIBERTY" across the top, while on the back, a bald eagle is showcased taking off for flight.

The design commission approved the look of the coin with a five-word request: "make it as large as possible."

Can the Trump coin be used as money?
The gold coin cannot, as it's just a commemorative symbol. It's currently unknown how much the gold coin will cost; however, other coins featured on the U.S. Mint's website go for thousands of dollars.

The Trump gold coin will join a line-up of special-edition currencies and medals from the Treasury for the semiquincentennial anniversary.

To read the complete article, see:
Design commission's ludicrous 5-word order for Trump's new gold coin (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/design-commission-s-ludicrous-5-word-order-for-trump-s-new-gold-coin/ar-AA1ZyfMG)

The first plastic utilized as a bank-note substrate was a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) thermoplastic polymer made from petroleum. It was patented by the DuPont Company in 1956 with the trade name Tyvek. American Bank Note Company (ABNC) produced a Tyvek four bank-note set for Haiti in 1982, followed by a single note for Costa Rica in 1983. The experiment was abandoned following reports of ink smudging in the hot and humid climates of these countries.

A Liberty 1929 series of test notes, first produced in the 1960s-70s, was chosen to be printed on the Tyvek substrate in the late 1980s. ABNC engraver Alfred Jones created the image of Liberty with Phrygian cap in 1894. The portrait was used on Brazil P73 200 mil reis of 1892 and 1919 Banque de Indo-Chine 500 rubles. The test note has four main types, with 49 variations I have attributed. The Tyvek substrate was used for 10 of these test notes.

To read the complete article, see:
Polymer Innovations (https://readingroom.money.org/polymer-innovations/)

Look closely - it's on the back

QR-code technology was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara. In the March 2026 issue of World Coin News, I discussed its implementation in coins, which started in 2011 with a two-coin series struck by the Royal Dutch Mint.

The insertion of a QR code in bank notes was developed a few years later. The progress achieved has been significant, with many variations currently in circulation that include a QR code. The situation contrasts with that of the coins, where QR codes have so far only been inserted in commemoratives or bullion.

The implementation of QR codes in bank notes provides an additional level of security embedded in the paper. The code also gives users access to dynamic information about the currency, the issuing institution, or the commemorative events celebrated in the design.

In 2012, Sveriges Riksbank announced that it would produce the world's first bank notes to feature QR codes. Swedish artist and engraver Göran Österlund won a 2011 competition to design the notes. Although the new bank notes were expected to enter circulation in 2015, the project was temporarily abandoned due to security concerns. There was a risk that scanning the codes could allow access to users' personal information.

To read the complete article, see:
QR-Codes in Bank Notes (https://www.numismaticnews.net/qr-codes-in-bank-notes)

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