House Republicans push to mint Charlie Kirk silver dollar coin

A pair of House Republicans unveiled legislation Friday to place Charlie Kirk on a U.S. silver dollar, a move aimed at memorializing the conservative activist after his assassination earlier this month on a Utah campus. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., plan to introduce the bill later this week, with a proposal to mint 400,000 coins bearing Kirk’s likeness.

The coins would be legal tender. One side would feature Kirk’s image, while the reverse would bear the words "well done, good and faithful servant." The coins would also be inscribed with Kirk’s full name, "Charles James Kirk," the year 2026, and the United States’ full name and motto. The final design would be selected by the Treasury Secretary in consultation with the sitting president, in this case President Donald Trump. "Since 1892, Congress has authorized commemorative coins to celebrate and honor historic American patriots," Hamadeh told Fox News Digital. He also hailed Kirk as an "American treasure." "He tirelessly sacrificed his time, energy, and money to save this nation for future generations. Ultimately, at the hands of a radical leftist, he sacrificed his life," Hamadeh said. "His life must be commemorated, and this coin will allow us to pass a reminder of his remarkable life on to generations to come."

Pfluger said that passage of their legislation would make Kirk, at age 31, the youngest-ever American to be placed on U.S. currency at the time of the coins’ minting, a position he described as a fitting honor that cements Kirk’s legacy alongside presidents and founding fathers who shaped the republic. "Charlie Kirk was a conservative titan whose transformational impact on millions of Americans deserves permanent recognition alongside our nation’s greatest leaders and influential figures," Pfluger said.

The proposal follows a broader wave of GOP efforts to honor Kirk after his assassination on campus. In the days after his death, the House passed a bipartisan resolution honoring Kirk and denouncing political violence. Other bills proposed by House Republicans would award Kirk congressional medals, designate a day of remembrance, and even seek a Capitol statue in his likeness. A group of Republicans also wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson to press for a Kirk statue in the Capitol.

The coin proposal also intersects with longstanding legal questions about currency design. A 1866 law bars the image of a living person from appearing on U.S. currency, a constraint that has shaped past commemorations. History has seen exceptions and nuance: Benjamin Franklin is depicted on the $100 bill, Alexander Hamilton on the $10 note, and different iterations of the $1 coin have featured Sacagawea, former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, and Susan B. Anthony, among others. In Kirk’s case, the plan anticipates minting the coin in 2026, by which time the subject would be deceased, addressing potential legal concerns.

As lawmakers pursue recognition, the timeline includes a Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, introduction of the bill by Pfluger and Hamadeh. The broader political moment surrounding Kirk—who became a controversial figure in conservative circles—has driven a series of measures aimed at memorialization, but it also raises questions about the intersection of commemoration, political discourse, and currency law.

The latest proposals come amid ongoing debates over how to honor public figures and how to weigh those honors against the backdrop of political violence. Whether the coin legislation advances will depend on the legislative calendar and the Treasury’s design considerations, in addition to any constitutional or legal reviews that may surface as the plan moves forward.