Two Republicans lawmakers push to put Charlie Kirk on silver dollar


Summary

Charlie Kirk coin bill

Two House Republicans said they plan to introduce legislation to create a coin bearing Charlie Kirk’s image.

Honors after assassination

A conservative commentator, Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

Silver dollar coins

The lawmakers told Fox News they want the U.S. Treasury to mint 400,000 silver dollar coins honoring Kirk.


Full story

Two Republican members of Congress said they are introducing a bill to memorialize conservative activist Charlie Kirk on U.S. currency after he was fatally shot in September. Reps. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., told Fox News they want the U.S. Treasury to mint 400,000 silver dollar coins bearing Kirk’s likeness. 

Besides Kirk’s image, the coins would include his full name and the year 2026, along with the words “well done, good and faithful servant” on one side, Fox News reported. A final design for the coins would be chosen by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with President Donald Trump.

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Hamadeh said in a joint press release with Pfluger that Kirk’s life “must be commemorated, and this coin will allow us to pass a reminder of his remarkable life on to generations to come.”

Pfluger, in a statement, called Kirk a “conservative titan” who had a “transformational impact on millions of Americans.”

Historical figures featured on U.S. currency include presidents, such as George Washington, whose face appears on $1 bills, and Abraham Lincoln, who is commemorated on the $5 bill. Non-presidents, such as Benjamin Franklin (featured on the $100 bill) and Alexander Hamilton (on the $10 bill), have also been honored. In recent years, there has been a push to include others on currency, such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Pfluger said that if given a commemorative coin, Kirk would be the youngest American ever featured on U.S. currency. While Sacagawea, who was put on a gold dollar coin, was reportedly 25 at the time of her death in 1812, some Native American oral histories say she lived for decades after that. 

Other honors for Kirk suggested

Kirk, 31, was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. His killing has sparked other pieces of legislation meant to honor him, including a resolution that the House passed earlier this month with 310 votes. Among Democrats, 95 supported the resolution, 58 voted against it and 38 voted “present.”

Some Democrats maintained that while they are against violence, they felt Kirk’s death had been politicized and that the resolution aimed to get them to endorse his views, according to The Associated Press.

“Today’s resolution underscores the majority’s recklessness by choosing to author this condemnation and honoring on a purely partisan basis,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, was quoted by the AP as saying on Sept. 19, when the House voted on the resolution. “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was.”

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., argued there was “no partisan language” in the resolution. 

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Why this story matters

Debate over memorializing Charlie Kirk following his death highlights political divisions regarding the commemoration of public figures and the use of legislation to honor them.

Memorialization of public figures

Proposals to commemorate Charlie Kirk with a minted coin reflect ongoing discussions about how the United States honors individuals in the public sphere.

Political polarization

Responses to the proposed legislation and related resolutions reveal partisan disagreements, with some viewing memorializations of Kirk as politicized and others emphasizing unity.

Legislative recognition

The introduction and passage of resolutions and potential legislation demonstrate how lawmakers use official acts to influence public memory and national symbols.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 47 media outlets

Context corner

Commemorative U.S. coins have historically honored deceased individuals and key events, with strict legal criteria dating back to 1866 which prohibits living individuals from appearing on currency following abuse of this privilege in the 19th century.

Debunking

There is no confirmation yet that the coin will be issued; the expected bill has only been suggested by two lawmakers and must be passed by Congress and signed by the President before any coin can be minted, as clarified in coverage from all perspectives.

History lesson

The US has a long tradition of releasing commemorative coins, beginning in 1892, and has previously honored both presidents and significant non-presidential Americans such as Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony.

SAN provides
Unbiased. Straight Facts.

Don’t just take our word for it.


Certified balanced reporting

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Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

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Media landscape

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