Ever looked at a crumpled five-dollar bill in your pocket and wondered why that specific guy is staring back at you? Honestly, most of us just see "money" and don't think twice about the faces. But the question of what presidents are on the us currency is actually a mix of tradition, weird historical coincidences, and some very strict federal laws.
It’s not just presidents, either. If you’ve ever called a hundred-dollar bill a "Benjamin," you already know that.
Right now, in 2026, the lineup is a bit of a "Who’s Who" of the 18th and 19th centuries. But things are changing. Between the massive "SemiQ" 250th-anniversary coin redesigns hitting your change jars this year and the slow-motion rollout of new banknotes, the faces in your wallet are more of a hot topic than usual.
The Paper Money Lineup: Who’s on the Bills?
If you pull out a stack of cash today, you’re looking at a very specific group of men. By law, no living person can be on US currency. That rule has been around since the Civil War era, mostly because the government didn't want the currency to look like a monarchy where the current "king" gets his face on the coins.
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Here is the current breakdown of the paper notes you’ll find in circulation:
- $1 Bill: George Washington. Our first president has been the face of the single since 1869. Fun fact: the $1 bill is the only one that hasn't been redesigned with modern "big head" security features. Why? Because nobody really bothers to counterfeit a one-dollar bill. It's too much work for too little payoff.
- $2 Bill: Thomas Jefferson. These are still being printed, believe it or not. You don't see them often, which makes people think they're rare or "lucky," but you can walk into almost any bank and ask for a stack of them.
- $5 Bill: Abraham Lincoln. Honest Abe has been here since 1914.
- $10 Bill: Alexander Hamilton. Okay, he wasn't a president. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, which is basically the ultimate "close enough" for currency. There was a huge debate about moving him off the bill a few years back, but thanks to a certain hit Broadway musical, his popularity spiked, and he's staying put.
- $20 Bill: Andrew Jackson. This one is the center of a lot of drama. Jackson actually hated paper money and preferred gold and silver. There’s a plan to replace him with Harriet Tubman, but it’s been delayed for years. As of 2026, the $10 bill is the first on the redesign schedule, with the Tubman $20 not expected until closer to 2030.
- $50 Bill: Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War general and 18th president.
- $100 Bill: Benjamin Franklin. Another non-president. He was a scientist, inventor, and diplomat. He’s on the biggest common bill because he's essentially the face of American ingenuity.
The Coins in Your Pocket: The 2026 SemiQ Update
While the paper bills stay mostly the same, the coins are having a huge year. To celebrate the Semiquincentennial (the 250th anniversary of the U.S.), the Mint has released special "1776-2026" dual-dated versions of the coins we use every day.
Abraham Lincoln still dominates the penny. He was actually the first president to ever appear on a US coin back in 1909. Before that, Americans thought putting a real person's face on a coin was a bit too much like a kingdom. They preferred "Lady Liberty."
Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel, and Franklin D. Roosevelt is on the dime. The Roosevelt dime is interesting because it was created specifically because of his work with the March of Dimes to fight Polio.
Then you have the George Washington quarter. For 2026, you'll see five new reverse designs that tell different stories of American history, but George is still on the front.
John F. Kennedy remains on the half-dollar. You don't see these in the wild much, but the Mint still makes them. Finally, there's the $1 coin. While the "Golden Dollar" usually features Sacagawea, there have been various series featuring every deceased president through the Presidential $1 Coin Program.
Why These Specific People?
Basically, the Treasury Department looks for "persons whose places in history the American people know well."
It’s a bit of a club. You have to be dead, you have to be historically significant, and you usually have to have played a major role in the "founding" or "saving" of the country. That's why Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson are the "Big Three" you see across multiple denominations.
But wait. Why is Andrew Jackson on the $20?
Nobody is quite sure. Seriously. There isn't a single official document from 1928 that explains why the Treasury decided to swap Grover Cleveland for Andrew Jackson. It’s one of those weird historical mysteries that just became "the way things are."
What’s Changing Soon?
If you're looking for new faces, you'll have to wait a little longer for the paper stuff. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a strict schedule to prevent counterfeiting:
- The $10 Bill (2026): This is the next one up for a total security overhaul. Hamilton will stay on the front, but the back is expected to be updated to honor the women's suffrage movement.
- The $50 Bill (2028): Grant stays, but with new holograms and colors.
- The $20 Bill (2030): This is the big one. This is when Harriet Tubman is scheduled to make her debut on the front, with Jackson likely moving to the back or being phased out.
Actionable Insights: What to Do With This Info
Knowing what presidents are on the us currency isn't just for trivia night. It can actually help you spot fakes or keep track of your collections.
- Check your 2026 change: Keep an eye out for those dual-dated "1776-2026" quarters and nickels. They aren't necessarily worth a fortune right now, but they are a one-year-only design.
- Verify your $100s: Since Ben Franklin is on the most counterfeited bill, always look for the 3D Security Ribbon (the blue strip) and the Bell in the Inkwell.
- Don't hoard $2 bills: They’re cool, but they’re only worth two dollars. Spend them! It’s a fun way to start a conversation with a cashier.
- Watch for "Star Notes": If you see a little star next to the serial number on any bill (Washington, Lincoln, or otherwise), that’s a replacement note. Collectors sometimes pay a premium for those.
The faces on our money tell the story of where we've been. As we move through 2026 and toward the new designs of the 2030s, that story is starting to include a wider range of the people who actually built the country.