by PushtoLearn
U.S. Presidents on Money
Table of Contents
🎯 TLDR
✔️ The faces on U.S. bills represent important figures in American history.
✔️ Some bills, like the $500 and $1,000, are no longer printed but remain legal tender.
✔️ Changes may be coming—Harriet Tubman is expected to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill!
📌 Who Decides the Faces on U.S. Bills?
✔️ The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury has the final say.
✔️ Federal law prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency.
✔️ The Treasury considers "persons whose places in history the American people know well."
📌 Fun Fact: The first person to design U.S. paper currency was Salmon P. Chase, who ironically put his own face on the first $1 bill!
💵 The Faces on U.S. Bills in Circulation
|
Denomination |
Historical Figure |
Position |
In Circulation Since |
|
$1 Bill |
George Washington |
1st U.S. President |
1869 |
|
$2 Bill |
Thomas Jefferson |
3rd U.S. President |
1869 |
|
$5 Bill |
Abraham Lincoln |
16th U.S. President |
1914 |
|
$10 Bill |
Alexander Hamilton |
Founding Father, 1st Treasury Secretary |
1929 |
|
$20 Bill |
Andrew Jackson |
7th U.S. President |
1929 |
|
$50 Bill |
Ulysses S. Grant |
18th U.S. President |
1914 |
|
$100 Bill |
Benjamin Franklin |
Founding Father, Inventor |
1914 |
📌 Note: The $2 bill is still legal tender, but it is rarely printed.
📌 Coming Soon? Harriet Tubman is expected to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill in a future redesign!
💰 U.S. Bills No Longer in Circulation
These high-denomination bills were discontinued in 1969 due to lack of use but remain legal tender (though rare).
|
Denomination |
Historical Figure |
Position |
Last Printed |
|
$500 Bill |
William McKinley |
25th U.S. President |
1945 |
|
$1,000 Bill |
Grover Cleveland |
22nd & 24th U.S. President |
1945 |
|
$5,000 Bill |
James Madison |
4th U.S. President |
1945 |
|
$10,000 Bill |
Salmon P. Chase |
Treasury Secretary |
1945 |
|
$100,000 Bill |
Woodrow Wilson |
28th U.S. President |
1934 |
📌 Fun Fact: The $100,000 bill was never publicly circulated—it was used only for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks.
🧐 Why Are Some Bills No Longer Used?
✔️ High-denomination bills were used for large transactions before digital banking.
✔️ In 1969, the government discontinued them to prevent money laundering.
✔️ Today, they are rare collectibles worth more than their face value!
FAQ: Common Questions About U.S. Bills
Why is Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill if he wasn’t a president?
➡️ Hamilton was the first U.S. Treasury Secretary and played a key role in creating the U.S. financial system.
Why is Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill?
➡️ Franklin was a Founding Father, diplomat, scientist, and inventor—a key figure in early American history.
Will Harriet Tubman be on the $20 bill?
➡️ Yes, plans to replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman were announced in 2016, but the redesign was delayed. The Biden administration is working to speed up the process.
Are $500 and $1,000 bills still legal to use?
➡️ Yes, but they are extremely rare and worth far more than their face value to collectors.
Why is George Washington on the $1 bill?
➡️ As the first U.S. President, Washington symbolizes the founding of the country.
