You probably have one in your wallet right now. Or maybe you haven’t seen a physical one in weeks because, honestly, who carries cash anymore? But the United States ten-dollar bill is a weirdly fascinating piece of paper. It’s the only denomination where the guy on the front is facing left. Everyone else—Lincoln, Washington, Grant—is looking right.
Alexander Hamilton is the star of the show here. He wasn’t a president. That trips people up during bar trivia all the time. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, a Federalist, and a guy who basically invented the American financial system out of thin air after the Revolution.
The Hamilton Problem: Why He Almost Lost His Spot
A few years ago, the United States ten-dollar bill was headed for a massive makeover. The Treasury Department, under Jack Lew back in 2015, announced they were going to put a woman on the $10. It made sense at the time. The $10 was next in line for a security update to stop counterfeiters.
Then Hamilton happened.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical turned a "forgotten" Founding Father into a global superstar. Suddenly, removing Hamilton from the tenner felt like a slap in the face to history (and pop culture). The public outcry was massive. People who didn't care about currency a year prior were suddenly calling the Treasury to save Alex.
So, the government pivoted. They decided to keep Hamilton on the $10 and move the change to the $20 bill instead. Harriet Tubman is slated to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20, though that process has been slower than a Sunday morning.
What’s Actually On the Back?
Flip the bill over. You see the U.S. Treasury Building. It’s a classic Greek Revival structure in D.C.
But look closer.
If you have a newer Series 2004 or later note, you’ll notice something different. Since 2006, the United States ten-dollar bill features "We the People" in red script to the right of the portrait. There are also tiny yellow numbers scattered in the background. They look like random "10s," but they are actually part of the EURion constellation.
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This is a pattern of symbols that helps photocopiers and scanners recognize the paper as money. If you try to scan a $10 bill on a modern printer, the software will literally stop you. It’s a built-in "do not copy" signal that most people never even notice.
The Security Features That Keep You From Getting Scammed
Counterfeiting is a huge business. Well, a huge illegal business. The $10 isn't targeted as often as the $20 or the $100, but it still has some high-tech defenses.
First, there's the color-shifting ink. When you tilt the bill, the "10" in the bottom right corner shifts from copper to green. It’s not just a fancy glitter; it’s a metallic flake ink that is incredibly hard to replicate without industrial-grade equipment.
Then there’s the security thread. If you hold the United States ten-dollar bill up to a bright light, you’ll see a vertical plastic strip embedded in the paper. It says "USA TEN" and has a tiny flag. Fun fact: that thread glows orange under ultraviolet (UV) light. If you’re at a bar and the bouncer hits your cash with a blacklight, they’re looking for that orange glow.
We also have the watermark. To the right of Hamilton's face, in the blank space, there is a ghost-like image of him. It’s not printed on the paper. It’s actually part of the paper fibers. You can see it from both sides. If the watermark looks blurry or "off," you’re probably holding a fake.
Why Is the $10 Bill Sometimes Called a "Sawbuck"?
You might hear old-timers or movie characters call a ten-dollar bill a "sawbuck."
Why?
It dates back to the mid-1800s. The Roman numeral for ten is "X." Back then, the $10 bill had a giant X on it. A sawbuck is also the name for a wooden frame used to hold wood while sawing it, which looks like an "X." The nickname stuck.
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Language is weird like that. People stopped putting Xs on the money a long time ago, but we still use the slang.
The Life Span of Your Money
Money dies. Seriously.
The Federal Reserve tracks how long bills stay in circulation before they get too ragged, torn, or dirty to be used. The United States ten-dollar bill usually lasts about 6.6 years.
Compare that to a $100 bill, which lasts about 22.9 years. Why the difference? People use $10s for everyday transactions—coffee, lunch, small change. They get folded, shoved into pockets, and passed around quickly. $100 bills usually sit in a safe or a wallet for a long time.
When a $10 bill gets too gross, it goes back to a Federal Reserve bank. They shred it. Then they sell the shredded "money mulch" or send it to a landfill. Some companies actually buy the shredded money to make souvenirs like pens or clocks.
How to Spot a Rare (and Valuable) $10 Bill
Most $10 bills are worth... ten dollars.
But not all of them.
If you’re a collector (a numismatist, if you want to be fancy), you look for "fancy serial numbers." Look at the green numbers on the right side. If you see a sequence like 00000001, that bill could be worth thousands. Or if it’s a "ladder" (12345678) or a "radar" (numbers that read the same forward and backward), you’ve got a winner.
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Also, look for the "Star Note." If there is a little star at the end of the serial number, it means that bill was a replacement for a sheet that was misprinted. They are rarer and often carry a premium.
There are also the "Gold Certificates." Back in the day, you could actually trade a $10 bill for $10 worth of gold. Those bills had bright yellow seals and serial numbers. If you find one of those in your attic, don’t spend it at Starbucks. It’s worth way more than its face value to a collector.
The Future of the Ten-Dollar Bill
The United States ten-dollar bill is scheduled for another redesign in the coming years. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is constantly working on "tactile features" to help blind and visually impaired people identify denominations by touch.
Right now, all U.S. bills are the same size. That’s actually pretty rare globally. Most countries use different sizes or colors to help people tell them apart. The U.S. has resisted changing the size because it would mean every vending machine and ATM in the country would need to be replaced.
Instead, expect more raised printing and maybe some distinct texture patterns on the next version of Hamilton’s home.
Actionable Insights for the Everyday User
Don't just spend your cash without looking at it. There’s a whole world of history and security right in your palm.
- Check your serial numbers. Before you pay for your groceries, glance at that $10. If the serial number looks "weird" or repetitive, look it up online. You might be holding $50 or $100 worth of value.
- Use the "Fingernail Test." Run your fingernail across Hamilton's shoulder. You should feel distinct ridges. This is intaglio printing, and it’s very hard for cheap printers to fake. If it’s smooth as a photo, it’s a counterfeit.
- Know the "Star." If you get a Star Note in your change, tuck it away. Even if it’s not worth a fortune today, they tend to hold their value better than standard notes.
- Don't fear the "old" bills. You might occasionally find a $10 bill from the 1980s or 1990s. It looks smaller and doesn't have the big portrait. It’s still legal tender. You can spend it, but some younger cashiers might look at it like it’s play money because they haven't seen one before.
The United States ten-dollar bill is more than just a piece of paper. It’s a mix of cotton and linen, a masterpiece of security engineering, and a tribute to the man who made sure the U.S. didn't go broke in its first decade. Whether you're using it to buy a sandwich or saving it for its rare serial number, it’s a fundamental part of the American story.
Next time you hold one, look for the tiny "USA 10" in the border. It’s there, hidden in plain sight, just like the rest of the secrets Hamilton left behind.