GOP lawmakers push to memorialize Charlie Kirk on US coins

Two Republican lawmakers said they plan to introduce a bill to the U.S. Treasury that would mint 400,000 silver dollar coins bearing Charlie Kirk’s likeness, a commemorative move following Kirk’s assassination earlier this month. Texas Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger and Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh described the measure, dubbed the Charlie Kirk Commemorative Coin Act, in interviews with Fox News. Hamadeh called Kirk an American treasure and said the coin would honor his life and influence for future generations. Pfluger said, if the bill becomes law, Kirk would become the youngest person depicted on U.S. currency and framed as a conservative leader whose impact warrants permanent recognition alongside the nation’s most notable figures.

Under the proposed design, Kirk’s face would appear on one side of the silver dollar, while the reverse would bear the words well done, good and faithful servant. The bill would also inscribe the full name Charles James Kirk and the year 2026. The final coin design would be determined by the Treasury Secretary, the President, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. If enacted, Kirk would join an array of historical figures who already appear on U.S. coins and currency, including George Washington, and well-known figures such as Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill and Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. The proposal notes that the Treasury Secretary would oversee the design process in conjunction with the administration.

The push comes as Kirk’s death earlier this month prompted renewed interest in memorial acts. Florida Sen. Rick Scott introduced a resolution on October 14, 2025, which would designate Kirk’s birthday—October 14—as a National Day of Remembrance. Scott described Kirk as a devout man whose life embodied faith, family, and civic engagement, and he urged educational and civic groups nationwide to observe the day with activities and programs promoting democratic values and civic participation. The resolution passed in the Senate as a simple ceremonial measure, not a law.

Within Florida, debate over roadside markers honoring Kirk intensified. The Lake County Commission in Tavares backed a proposal for such markers, but the plan sparked lengthy public debate, with many residents arguing that memorials should honor other local figures or fallen law enforcement personnel first. Commissioner Anthony Sabatini sparked a confrontation during the meeting, pushing back against critics who he said were attempting to frame supporters as intolerant. Others, including residents like Mae Hazelton, urged restraint and fairness in how communities recognize public figures. Separate calls from Republicans such as Anna Paulina Luna for Capitol recognition grew louder, with Luna urging House leadership to erect a statue or monument to Kirk in the Capitol. She described Kirk’s work as a permanent testament to his life and sacrifice and argued that political disagreement should not justify violence.

Across these developments, supporters argue Kirk’s influence on political discourse and his role in mobilizing young conservatives merit formal recognition. Opponents caution that before creating new memorials or currency designs, broader consensus and discussion at the state and national levels should occur, and that such actions could become polarizing symbols in a heated political climate. The coin proposal, still pending introduction in Congress, adds to a larger constellation of memorial initiatives tied to Kirk’s public profile and the ongoing debates over how to commemorate political voices in American culture.