You probably have one in your wallet right now. It’s the most common bill dispensed by ATMs, yet it carries the face of a man who would have absolutely hated its existence. Seriously. Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, spent a massive chunk of his political career trying to kill the very concept of national banking and paper currency.
It’s one of history's greatest ironies.
The Andrew Jackson twenty dollar bill has been the workhorse of American commerce for nearly a century. But if you've been following the news over the last few years, you know the design is on borrowed time. Between the "Bank War" of the 1830s and the modern push for Harriet Tubman to take over the portrait, there is a lot more to this green slip of paper than just twenty bucks.
Why is Andrew Jackson on the Twenty Dollar Bill Anyway?
Here is the kicker: nobody actually knows the official reason.
In 1928, the U.S. Treasury Department decided to overhaul all paper currency. They wanted to make the bills smaller and more standardized. They replaced Grover Cleveland with Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, but the records from that era don't explicitly state why Jackson was chosen.
At the time, Treasury officials basically told the New York Times that they chose figures whose faces were "familiar to the majority of people." Jackson was a war hero from the Battle of New Orleans and a symbol of the "common man." He was popular. People liked him.
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But it’s incredibly awkward.
Jackson was a "hard money" guy. He didn't trust paper. He once famously referred to the Second Bank of the United States as a "monster" and a "hydra-headed corruption." He believed that only gold and silver (specie) should be used as legal tender. To put his face on a Federal Reserve Note—the ultimate symbol of centralized banking and fiat currency—is basically the ultimate cosmic joke.
The Push for Harriet Tubman
If you feel like you’ve been hearing about the Harriet Tubman redesign for a decade, it’s because you have.
The movement started in earnest around 2014 with a grassroots campaign called "Women on 20s." By 2016, the Obama administration officially announced that Tubman, the legendary abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor, would replace Jackson on the front of the bill.
Then things got complicated.
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Political shifts and technical "security concerns" slowed the process to a crawl. As of early 2026, the status of the Andrew Jackson twenty dollar bill remains in a weird state of limbo. While the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has been working on the new security features—which are actually the main reason for the delay—Jackson is still the face of the twenty.
The Current Timeline for Change
- 2026 (Now): The Treasury is deep into the design and testing of new security features. These include 3D security ribbons and color-shifting ink that are harder for counterfeiters to replicate.
- 2028-2030: This is the projected window for when we might actually see the new Tubman notes in our hands.
- The "Jackson Flip": It’s worth noting that Jackson isn't necessarily disappearing entirely. Current plans suggest his portrait might move to the back of the bill, while Tubman takes the primary spot on the front.
A Legacy Under the Microscope
We can't talk about the Andrew Jackson twenty dollar bill without acknowledging why people want him off of it. It isn't just about his hatred of banks.
Jackson’s presidency is defined by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This led to the Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations. Thousands died. For many Americans, having a man responsible for what many historians categorize as ethnic cleansing on our most used currency is a bridge too far.
On the flip side, some argue he represents a specific era of American populism and military grit. They see the effort to remove him as "political correctness" rather than a necessary historical correction.
How to Spot a Fake Twenty
Regardless of who is on the front, the $20 bill is the most counterfeited note in the United States. If you're handling cash, you should look for three specific things on the current Jackson design:
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- The Watermark: Hold the bill to the light. You should see a faint image of Jackson in the blank space to the right of the portrait.
- The Color-Shifting Ink: Look at the number "20" in the lower right corner. Tilt it back and forth. It should change from copper to green.
- The Security Thread: There is a vertical plastic strip embedded in the paper. If you hold it to UV light, it glows green.
What Should You Do With Your Old Twenties?
Don't worry about your current cash becoming worthless. Even when the Harriet Tubman bills eventually launch, your Andrew Jackson twenty dollar bill will still be legal tender. The U.S. government never devalues its old currency.
If you happen to have a "Star Note" (a bill with a small star at the end of the serial number) or an older Series 1928 or 1950 bill, don't just spend it at the grocery store. Some of these older versions, especially in crisp condition, are worth significantly more than $20 to collectors.
The best thing you can do right now is stay informed on the Treasury's release schedule. As we move closer to 2028, the BEP will launch public education campaigns to help people recognize the new security features.
Pay attention to your serial numbers. Check your "pocket change" for rare older series. And maybe, next time you pull a twenty out of an ATM, take a second to look at Jackson and remember that he’d probably be pretty annoyed to be there.
Actionable Step: Check the "Series" year on the twenties in your wallet. If you find a Series 1990 or older in good condition, set it aside. While they aren't "rare" yet, their value among collectors is slowly rising as they are pulled from circulation and destroyed by the Federal Reserve.