Ever pulled a crumpled twenty out of your pocket and actually looked at Andrew Jackson’s face? Most of us don't. We just care that it buys lunch. But the lineup of faces on our currency isn't just a random "best of" list from history class. It’s a weirdly political, sometimes accidental, and currently shifting collection of icons.
Honestly, the most common thing people get wrong? Thinking everyone on a bill was a president. They weren't. You’ve probably got Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin in your head right now. Great guys, huge legacies—never lived in the White House.
If we’re talking about every president on money, we have to look at the bills and the coins because that’s where the real history hides.
The Big Seven: Presidents on Paper
Right now, the Federal Reserve handles seven denominations of notes. Only five of those features a president. If you’re counting, that means two of the most famous faces on our cash are "imposters" in the context of this specific list.
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1. George Washington ($1 Bill)
George is the anchor. He’s been on the $1 bill since 1869, and he isn't going anywhere. The portrait you see every day is based on Gilbert Stuart’s 1796 painting. Fun fact: it’s actually unfinished. Stuart kept the original so he could keep making copies because, hey, even in the 1700s, everyone wanted a piece of Washington.
2. Thomas Jefferson ($2 Bill)
The $2 bill is the "weird" one. People think they’re rare or fake, but they’re still being printed. Jefferson first appeared on this note in 1869. What's really cool is the back of the bill. It shows the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Most people assume it’s a generic scene, but it’s based on a very specific painting by John Trumbull. Because space was tight, five guys from the original painting got chopped out of the engraving.
3. Abraham Lincoln ($5 Bill)
Lincoln is a currency heavyweight. He’s on the $5 bill and the penny. He was a "martyr" choice, added to the five-dollar Federal Reserve Note in 1914. His portrait is based on an 1864 photograph by Anthony Berger. He’s looking pretty tired in it—leading a country through a Civil War will do that to you.
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4. Andrew Jackson ($20 Bill)
Jackson is the controversial one. He’s been the face of the twenty since 1928, which is ironic because Jackson famously hated paper money. He preferred gold and silver. There’s been a massive push to replace him with Harriet Tubman. While the Tubman twenty is "in the works," don't expect to see it in your ATM tomorrow. Government timelines move at the speed of a glacier; we're likely looking at 2030 before the new design hits the streets.
5. Ulysses S. Grant ($50 Bill)
Grant is often the forgotten man of currency. He landed on the $50 bill in 1914. People sometimes forget he was even a president, focusing more on his time as the General who won the Civil War. His name was actually Hiram Ulysses Grant, but a typo on his West Point application changed it to Ulysses S. Grant forever. He just rolled with it.
The Pocket Change: Presidents on Coins
Coins are where we see some different faces that don't make it onto the paper stuff.
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- The Penny (Abraham Lincoln): He was put on the penny in 1909 to celebrate his 100th birthday. It was the first time a real person was featured on a regular-issue US coin. Before that, it was all "Lady Liberty" figures.
- The Nickel (Thomas Jefferson): He replaced the Buffalo nickel in 1938.
- The Dime (Franklin D. Roosevelt): This was a fast-tracked tribute. FDR died in 1945, and by 1946, he was on the dime. Why the dime? Because of his work with the March of Dimes to fight Polio.
- The Quarter (George Washington): Originally meant to be a one-year commemorative coin for his 200th birthday in 1932, but it was so popular they just kept it.
- The Half Dollar (John F. Kennedy): After his assassination in 1963, the Mint moved incredibly fast. His wife, Jackie, chose the half dollar because she didn't want to replace Washington or Lincoln on their respective coins.
The Ones Who Weren't Presidents
We have to mention them because you’ll see them today. Alexander Hamilton ($10) was the first Secretary of the Treasury. He basically built the US financial system, so it makes sense he’s there. Benjamin Franklin ($100) was a diplomat, inventor, and founding father, but never president. He’s on the "Benjamin" simply because he was one of the most important humans to ever live in the colonies.
Why 2026 is a Big Year for Your Wallet
You might notice something different in your change this year. To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary (the Semiquincentennial), the US Mint is rolling out some special designs.
Specifically, the Roosevelt dime is getting a temporary makeover. For 2026, the "Emerging Liberty" design will replace the standard Roosevelt theme on the ten-cent piece. Don't worry, FDR fans—he’s scheduled to return to the coin in 2027. We’re also seeing a rotating cast of designs on the back of quarters to celebrate this milestone.
Actionable Steps for the Curious Collector
If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly more interested in your cash than the average person. Here is how you can actually use this knowledge:
- Check your $2 bills: Look at the back. Try to find the guys who were "cut" from the original Trumbull painting by comparing it to the digital version of the "Declaration of Independence" online.
- Hunt for "Silver" Eisenhowers: While most Eisenhower dollars ($1 coins from the 70s) are just copper and nickel, some 1972 versions minted in San Francisco are 40% silver. If you find a large dollar coin with "S" near the date, weigh it. If it’s 24.59 grams, you’ve got actual silver.
- Start a "Semiquincentennial" set: 2026 coins are going to be unique. Save one of each denomination from this year. They won’t make you a millionaire, but they’re great pieces of history to show your kids.
- Watch the $20 bill: Keep an eye on Treasury announcements. We are entering the window where the final designs for the Tubman twenty will start being teased to the public.
The money in your pocket is basically a portable museum. Most people just spend it, but if you look closely, you’re holding the results of two centuries of political squabbles, artistic egos, and national tributes.