Rosa Parks Commemorative Coins: HR 916 Would Honor a Civil Rights Icon

Honoring Rosa Parks Through Coinage

A bill in Congress would direct the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus on December 1, 1955, became one of the most significant acts of civil disobedience in American history and a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) — her courage on a Montgomery bus sparked a movement that changed America.

HR 916, the Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act, was introduced on February 4, 2025, and has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

The Proposed Coins

The bill authorizes three denominations:

• $5 gold coins — Up to 50,000 pieces, containing at least 90% gold
• $1 silver dollars — Up to 400,000 pieces, containing at least 90% silver
• Half-dollar clad coins — Up to 750,000 pieces in copper-nickel clad

Design Requirements

The legislation specifies that the coin designs must be "emblematic of the legacy of Rosa Parks as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement." At least one obverse design must bear the name and likeness of Rosa Parks.

Beyond that framework, the specific artistic direction will be developed through the Mint's standard design process — with candidate designs reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) before the Secretary of the Treasury makes the final selection.

For numismatic classification purposes, all coins minted under this act are designated as numismatic items under sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code.

Surcharges Support the Parks Legacy

Each coin sold would include a surcharge directed to the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, an organization founded by Rosa Parks and Elaine Eason Steele in 1987. The Institute continues educational and community development programs that advance Parks' vision of equity and opportunity.

Surcharge amounts follow the standard commemorative coin structure:

• $35 per $5 gold coin
• $10 per $1 silver dollar
• $5 per half-dollar

Rosa Parks in Numismatic History

Rosa Parks has been recognized on U.S. coinage before. In 1999, she received the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. The medal featured her portrait on the obverse and a depiction of her seated on the bus on the reverse.

She also appeared on the 2024 quarter dollar as part of the American Women Quarters Program, making her one of the select group of women honored on circulating U.S. coinage.

A dedicated commemorative coin program would represent a more extensive tribute — offering collectors gold, silver, and clad options while generating support for the Parks Institute's ongoing work.

Where the Bill Stands

HR 916 is in the early stages of the legislative process, having been referred to the House Financial Services Committee. Commemorative coin bills typically require significant co-sponsorship to advance — the Commemorative Coin Reform Act of 1996 requires at least 67 co-sponsors in the House (two-thirds of the Financial Services Committee) before a commemorative coin bill can be considered.

Join the Discussion

Rosa Parks' legacy is deeply woven into American history. A commemorative coin program offers a unique opportunity to honor that legacy in a medium that collectors can hold, display, and pass down.

We'd like to hear from the community:

• What design elements would best capture Rosa Parks' legacy on a coin? The bus, the Montgomery skyline, symbols of the broader Civil Rights Movement?
• Would you add the gold, silver, or half-dollar version to your collection — or all three?
• How do you feel about the mintage limits? Are 50,000 gold coins the right number?
• What other civil rights figures do you think deserve commemorative coin recognition?

Reply below with your thoughts. We'll keep this thread updated as the bill progresses.