THE faces on the dollar bills have been a staple for decades - but who exactly is on each one? United States currency has a history that goes back to colonial times, and over the years, the faces on the bills have changed. One of the most notable changes came in 1929, when the size of the bills was standardized and the front of the $10 bill featured the portrait of Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury. He played a significant role in establishing the country's financial system and was a strong advocate for a strong central government. His face on the $10 bill remained unchanged for decades, until calls for a woman to be featured on paper currency began to gain momentum.
In 2015, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced that a woman would be featured on the $10 bill, and there was widespread speculation about who it would be. Many people expected the honor to go to Harriet Tubman, a former slave who became a leading figure in the abolitionist movement.
If you had put $20 down in 2020 that Harriet Tubman's face would be on a $20 bill in 10 years, the odds would be 50-50. However, in a surprise move, Lew announced that Hamilton's portrait would remain on the front of the $10 bill, and that Tubman would instead replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill.
The decision to keep Hamilton on the $10 bill was controversial, as many people felt that a woman should replace him on the currency. However, Lew argued that Hamilton's legacy deserved to be celebrated and that he would remain on the bill in some form.
Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew announced on Wednesday that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing would replace the portrait of Alexander with that of Harriet Tubman. He said the new design would be unveiled in 2020, which marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
The move to feature a woman on paper currency is not a new one. Growing numbers of Americans are going cashless, but demands to finally put a woman on paper currency persist. In fact, there have been several attempts to replace or add women to the bills over the years.
One of the most notable efforts came from a 9-year-old girl from Massachusetts, who made national news in 2014 with a hand-written letter to President Obama asking him to consider putting a woman on the $20 bill. The girl, named Sofia, argued that women had played an important role in American history and deserved to be recognized on the currency.
There are several currency denominations that the U.S. Treasury has discontinued or that are considered rare. One of the most notable of these is the $1,000 bill, which featured the portrait of Grover Cleveland. The bill was discontinued in 1969 due to the high cost of production and concerns about its use in illegal activities.
A look at how the U.S. $10 bill has evolved over the years shows that the portrait of Alexander Hamilton has remained a constant feature. However, the back of the bill has changed several times, with different designs featuring significant events in American history.
One of the most interesting back designs was introduced in 2000, when the U.S. Treasury released a new version of the $10 bill featuring a portrait of Alexander Hamilton on the front and a scene of the Treasury Building on the back. The design was meant to celebrate Hamilton's contribution to the country's financial system and the building that houses the Treasury Department.
In conclusion, the evolution of the president on the $10 bill has been a fascinating journey through American history. From the portrait of Alexander Hamilton to the upcoming design featuring Harriet Tubman, the currency tells the story of the country and its people. The decision to feature a woman on paper currency is a significant step forward for gender equality and a reminder that the contributions of women throughout history deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
