New Faces On Old Money
It’s been decided. After thousands of suggestions for new faces on the $10 and $20 bills Harriet Tubman will grace the front of the new $20 bill replacing Andrew Jackson.
Jackson’s image will be kicked to the back of the bill.
Jackson’s personal image was somewhat tarnished by the forced removal of over 125,000 American Indians called the Trail of Tears.
As a result of his controversial positions, he was easier to remove than some others.
The Power of Alexander Hamilton
The original plan was to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman on the $10 bill but there was great resistance to that suggestion.
Why the resistance you ask?
It seems that Hamilton was the very first Secretary of the Treasury and the architect of our economic system.
It would be pretty hard to dis a guy with those credentials off money.
Hamilton will stay on the front of the $10 and various other folks, to be determined later, will be on the back of the bill.
Lincoln And The $5 Bill
Lincoln will remain on the front of the $5 bill. It would be pretty hard to make a case to remove Honest Abe.
A group of civil rights leaders will be selected for the back of the five spot.
No reported changes to the $1 bill at this writing.
Why The Change?
On July 14, 1969, the US stopped printing and distributing $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills.
With more secure computer and internet banking technologies, denominations over $100 were no longer needed for bank transfers.
Security and counterfeiting are the main reasons for making changes to our national currency. There have been many changes over the past few years with holograms micro writing and other safety features.
There are also directives about improving the design of the bill for the visually impaired.
Many people felt that limiting the images on our money to all males and mostly presidents seemed to be an outmoded way of thinking in our new more permissive and diverse age.
Not all currency has presidential portraits on the front. Benjamin Franklin $100, and Alexander Hamilton, Sec. Treasury $10 are the only non-presidents.
Others who have been on various denominations of coins include John Marshall (US Supreme Court Chief Justice, 1801-1835), Salmon Chase (US Secretary of Treasury, 1861-1864), Susan B. Anthony (American suffragist), and Sacagawea (Shoshone interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition).
Some Final Thoughts
As long as it spends, you can put Daffy Duck on the front as far as I’m concerned. Canada has plastic bills so in some precincts we are way behind.
In the case of Washington, Lincoln, and a couple of others I doubt any changes will be made to those.
What’s your opinion on our changing currencies?
Comments below
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