You probably have one in your pocket right now. Or maybe it’s crumpled at the bottom of a cup holder, covered in coffee spilled three weeks ago. We see the George Washington $1 bill so often that we stop actually seeing it. It’s the background noise of the American economy. But if you really look at it—I mean, really stare at that green-and-black scrap of cotton and linen—you’ll realize it’s one of the strangest pieces of paper in circulation.
It’s old. Not just the paper, but the design. While the $20, $50, and $100 bills have all gone through high-tech makeovers with color-shifting ink and 3D security ribbons to stop counterfeiters, the single has stayed stuck in 1963. Why? Because nobody bothers counterfeiting a one-dollar bill. It costs more to make a good fake than the bill is actually worth. So, we’re left with this mid-century relic that’s basically a portable museum of Masonic symbols, Latin phrases, and a portrait of a man who looks slightly annoyed to be there.
The Face You Know (And the Teeth He Hated)
The portrait of George Washington on the $1 bill wasn't just some random sketch. It’s based on Gilbert Stuart’s 1796 painting, known as the "Athenaeum Portrait." Honestly, Washington looks a bit stiff. There’s a reason for that. By the time he sat for this painting, he was 64 and his mouth was a wreck.
Forget the myth about wooden teeth. That's a total lie. His dentures were actually made of ivory, lead, and—this is the grim part—human teeth purchased from enslaved people. They were bulky. They pushed his lips out in a way that made his face look tight and uncomfortable. Stuart never actually finished the background of the original painting because he liked the face so much, but if you look at the George Washington $1 bill, you’re seeing a man in constant physical pain.
It’s kind of ironic. The face of American prosperity is a guy who could barely chew his dinner. Yet, that image is the most reproduced portrait in the history of the world. Billions of them.
That Creepy Eye and the Pyramid
Flip the bill over. You’ve got the Great Seal of the United States. On the left, there’s an unfinished pyramid with an eye hovering over it. People love a good conspiracy theory, right? They’ll tell you it’s the Illuminati or some secret shadow government marking their territory.
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The truth is a little more "Enlightenment-era nerd" than "New World Order."
The "Eye of Providence" was a common symbol for God in the 18th century. The pyramid is unfinished because the U.S. was—and arguably still is—a work in progress. It has 13 steps, representing the original colonies. If you look at the bottom, you’ll see Roman numerals: MDCCLXXVI. That’s 1776.
Then there are the Latin phrases. Annuit Coeptis basically means "He has favored our undertakings." Novus Ordo Seclorum translates to "A new order of the ages." It wasn't about a secret society; it was about the Founding Fathers being incredibly cocky about starting a new country from scratch. They really thought they were changing the world forever. Turns out, they were right.
Why the $1 Bill Won’t Die
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been trying to kill the George Washington $1 bill for decades. They want us to use coins. Coins last 30 years; a paper dollar lasts about 6.6 years before it’s too torn and filthy to use. Switching to coins would save the government billions.
But Americans hate the dollar coin. We love our "greenbacks."
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There’s a powerful lobby involved here too. Crane Currency, based in Massachusetts, has been providing the paper for U.S. banknotes since 1879. They have a massive stake in making sure we keep using paper. Then you have the vending machine industry. Think about the millions of machines across the country that would need to be retrofitted if we ditched the paper single. It’s a logistical nightmare that nobody wants to touch.
The Secret Geometry of the Design
If you’re bored, grab a magnifying glass. The level of detail on the George Washington $1 bill is actually insane.
- The Eagle's Talons: On the right side of the back, the American bald eagle holds an olive branch (peace) and 13 arrows (war). It’s looking toward the olive branch, which is supposed to signify a preference for peace.
- The Number 13: It’s everywhere. 13 stars above the eagle. 13 stripes on the shield. 13 leaves on the olive branch. 13 arrows. 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum." 13 steps on the pyramid. The founders were obsessed with that number for obvious reasons.
- The "Owl" or "Spider": In the top right corner of the front, in the decorative border around the "1," there’s a tiny shape. Some people swear it’s a tiny owl. Others say it’s a spider. In reality? It’s just a quirk of the intricate web-like engraving designed to make the bill harder to scan and print.
Real Talk: Is Yours Worth More Than a Dollar?
Most $1 bills are worth exactly 100 cents. But collectors—numismatists—get really weird about "fancy serial numbers." If you have a George Washington $1 bill with a serial number like 00000001, you’re looking at thousands of dollars.
Look for "ladders" (12345678) or "radars" (numbers that read the same forward and backward). Even "star notes"—bills where a small star appears at the end of the serial number—can be worth a premium. These stars indicate the bill was a replacement for a sheet that was misprinted at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
It's Actually Not Paper
One of the most common misconceptions is that the George Washington $1 bill is made of paper. If it were, it would disintegrate the first time you forgot it in your jeans and threw them in the wash.
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It’s actually a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it feels like fabric. That’s also why it can survive a trip through the spin cycle. The "red and blue fibers" you see embedded in the material aren't just for looks; they are synthetic threads used to thwart counterfeiters who might try to use high-quality commercial paper.
The Future of George
Will we still be using the George Washington $1 bill in 2030? Probably. Even as we move toward a cashless society, the $1 bill remains a psychological anchor for the American dollar. It represents stability.
Despite the push for digital payments, there are still over 14 billion $1 bills in circulation. That’s a lot of George.
Actionable Steps for the Curious
If you want to get more out of the cash in your wallet than just a cup of coffee, try these three things:
- Check for Stars: Look at the serial number. If there’s a ★ instead of a letter at the end, keep it. It’s a replacement note. Depending on its condition and the "run size" (how many were printed), it could be worth $5 to $50 to the right collector.
- Verify the Series: Look for the "Series" year next to Washington's portrait. If you find one from 1963 or 1963A, you're holding the first year the $1 Federal Reserve Note was issued in its current form.
- The Light Test: Hold the bill up to a strong light. While the $1 doesn't have the fancy watermarks of the $20, you can see the intricate "microprinting" and the texture of the cotton-linen blend. If it feels like "printer paper," it's a fake.
- Use a Tracking Site: Go to "Where's George?" (wheresgeorge.com). Enter the serial number and see where your bill has been. Some of these singles have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, changing hands in dozens of states. It's a fascinating way to see how money moves through the real world.
The $1 bill is the workhorse of the American economy. It’s dirty, it’s old-fashioned, and it’s mathematically inefficient. But it’s also a masterpiece of 18th-century symbolism hiding in plain sight. Next time you hand one over the counter, take a second to look at George. He's seen a lot.